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Budget and Strategic Planning

We support the Mayor, City Council, and Departments by creating each biennial budget and by guiding day-to-day decision making. The Strategic Plan shows how City resources can direct us towards achieving the community's most-important goals. The adopted budget allocates funds to pay for high-priority services, programs, and projects. Each month, our detailed reports track how revenues and expenses compare to the adopted budget.

We focus on achieving fiscal sustainability through:

Priority-based budgeting and strategic thinking
Regular analysis of financial performance
Assessment of City services
Achieving adopted financial policies(PDF, 247KB)

Our team provides professional support to the City Council Finance Committee to advance the City’s financial well-being. This work ensures that Lynnwood remains accessible, responsive and accountable.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has granted its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to the City of Lynnwood consecutively since 2017. GFOA presents this award to governments whose budget documents meet the GFOA's criteria as an effective policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communication device. This award signifies that Lynnwood is meeting the highest principles of government budgeting.

City Budgeting

The 2023-2024 Biennial Budget:

On October 10, 2022, Mayor Christine Frizzell presented a proposed preliminary biennial budget for 2023-2024(PDF, 9MB).

Throughout the month of October, Departments will deliver budget presentations during City Council Work Sessions and Business Meetings.

On November 14, there will be a Public Hearing on the Preliminary Budget 2023-2024 and a Public Hearing on the 2023 Property Tax Levy.

Council is anticipated to adopt the 2023-2024 biennial budget on November 21, 2022.

The City Council(PDF, 2MB) approved the 2021-2022 Budget on November 23, 2020. Below is the final version.

2021-2022 Budget Book(PDF, 8MB)

Ordinance 3378 Adopting the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget(PDF, 326KB)

The attachment to Ordinance 3378 is the official, adopted Budget for the years 2021 and 2022. This document identifies revenues and expenditures by fund, but does not provide detail regarding services and outcomes.

Strategic Plan

Where should the City focus its resources? Which municipal services and projects are the most important? How can our limited funds achieve the most good?

Our strategic planning helps to answer these tough questions so that all work groups support our goals. Our strategic thinking helps us stay both focused and nimble when dealing with new challenges and opportunities.

The Lynnwood Community Vision was developed by a group of Lynnwood residents and it helps define our mission and values.

The Lynnwood Community Vision states that The City of Lynnwood will be a regional model for a sustainable, vibrant community with engaged citizens and an accountable government.

To read the full vision statement, visit Visioning Lynnwood.

Lynnwood's Strategic Plan(PDF, 1MB) identifies our six highest priorities for near-term years:

Fulfill the community vision for the City Center and Lynnwood Link light rail.
Ensure financial stability and economic success.
Nurture operational and organizational excellence.
Be a safe community.
Be a diverse, welcoming, equitable, and livable city.
Pursue and maintain collaborative relationships and partnerships.

Strategic Plan 2022-2026, Short Version(PDF, 388KB)

Plan Estratégico de la Ciudad de Lynnwood, 2022-2026(PDF, 217KB)

린우드 시 전략적 계획, 2022-2026(PDF, 275KB)

Have a suggestion or idea? Email us with your thoughts!

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Click on the link below to find information about Lynnwood's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Financial Policies

City of Lynnwood Finance staff and the Finance Committee publish the Financial Policies. This is necessary to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. The safekeeping, proper use and management of public resources are our primary purpose.

Below are organizations used to set standards and best practices for these policies:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
State Legislature
State Auditor's Office (SAO)
Department of Revenue (DOR)
Government Financial Officers Association (GFOA)
Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
Lynnwood Municipal Code (LMC).

2021-08 Financial Policies(PDF, 247KB)

Capital Facilities Plan

The Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) is a planning document used to coordinate the scheduling and funding for major city projects. Each CFP covers the next 6 year period. The CFP serves as an important tool. It's used to insure that the City's Capital Facilities are maintained or developed as needed.

2021-2026 CFP(PDF, 1MB)

2020-2025 CFP(PDF, 2MB)

2019-2024 CFP(PDF, 2MB)

2017-2022 CFP(PDF, 961KB)

2016-2021 CFP(PDF, 723KB)

2015-2020 CFP(PDF, 2MB)

Open Finance Records

Ever wonder where the City spends the money? How much do we pay our employees? Who are our vendors that we pay?

This interactive website provides detailed information of City revenues and expenditures budget to actual. We invite you to view the information.

Information is available for a full budget year, or for individual transactions. Updates are done weekly to the Financial data. This information is pulled directly from our financial software program (Munis).

City of Lynnwood Open Finance

Financial Report Summaries

Budget staff prepare and present quarterly reports to the Finance Committee. Quarterly reports are also presented to the City Council.

The quarterly report consists of the following:

General Fund budget to actual revenues and expenditures by department
Monthly Cash and Investment reconciliation
Investment Report
REET I & II Funds
EDIF Fund
Other financial data
Summary of all funds revenues and expenditures
Water/Sewer/Storm Fund budget to actual revenues and expenditures

2021 Financial Report 3rd Quarter Ending 9/30(PDF, 1MB)

2021 Financial Report 2nd Quarter Ending 6/30(PDF, 2MB)

2021 Financial Report 1st Quarter Ending 3/31(PDF, 1MB)

2020 Financial Report 4th Quarter Ending 12/31(PDF, 2MB)

2020 Financial Report 3rd Quarter Ending 9/30(PDF, 2MB)

2020 Financial Report 2nd Quarter Ending 6/30(PDF, 2MB)

2020 Financial Report 1st Quarter Ending 3/31(PDF, 2MB)

2019 Financial Report 4th Quarter Ending 12/31(PDF, 2MB)

2019 Financial Report 3rd Quarter Ending 9/30(PDF, 2MB)

2019 Financial Report 2nd Quarter Ending 6/30(PDF, 860KB)

2019 Financial Report 1st Quarter Ending 3/31(PDF, 875KB)

Prior Budgets

The biennial budget matches the City’s strategic priorities. Our spending decisions achieve community-based goals. The biennium runs January 1 of the odd number year through December 31 of the even number year.

During the biennium the City considers budget amendments to address emerging issues. The City Council adopts the budgets and any amendments to the budget.

2019-2020 Adopted Budget Book(PDF, 8MB)

Ordinance 3315 Adopting 2019-2020 Budget 11/26/2018(PDF, 2MB)

Ordinance 3341 Budget Amendment 8/12/2019(PDF, 3MB)

Ordinance 3349 Budget Amendment 11/25/2019(PDF, 236KB)

Ordinance 3362 Budget Amendment 6/22/2020(PDF, 5MB)

Ordinance 3366 Budget Amendment 9/16/2020(PDF, 988KB)

Ordinance 3367 Budget Amendment 9/16/2020(PDF, 1MB)

Ordinance 3384 Budget Amendment 12/14/2020(PDF, 355KB)

2017-2018 Adopted Budget Book(PDF, 16MB)

Ordinance 3238 Adopting 2017-2018 Budget 11/28/2016(PDF, 522KB)

Ordinance 3263 Budget Amendments 6/12/2017(PDF, 712KB)

Ordinance 3278 Mid-Biennial Budgets Modifications 11/17/2017(PDF, 916KB)