Did you know that Anacortes City Hall just ran the exact same play twice? At the September 8 City Council meeting, history repeated itself. Just like the firefighters’ contract approved earlier this year, this latest labor deal followed a familiar playbook: a packed agenda right after a holiday weekend, a quick executive session, and a unanimous vote with zero public discussion.
The price tag this time? More than $2 million over four years.
Playing by the Rules or Hiding Behind Them?
To be fair, the Council didn’t break the law. Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) has exempted labor negotiations from public view since 1990. As noted by the Mountain States Policy Center during recent state employee negotiations with Governor Ferguson’s office, these deals account for the vast majority of government budgets, yet the public rarely sees the details until the Ink is dry.
Following the law is one thing. But why did the Council go out of its way to keep even the existence of these negotiations hidden until the last second? Could it be because the deal contradicts the city’s official story on rising costs?
Breakdown of the Numbers
The new retroactive contract covers 2025 through 2028, granting guaranteed base raises of:
- 2025: 7%
- 2026: 4%
- 2027: 4%
- 2028: 5%
Keep in mind, those percentages exclude standard step increases, longevity pay, and additional stipends (such as a 4% raise boost for holding a bachelor’s degree).
The Real Problem: A Growing Financial Gap
Public safety is essential, and our officers deserve fair pay. But just two weeks prior to this vote, the Finance Department claimed the state’s 1% property tax cap was leaving the city cash-strapped due to inflation.
How can the city plead poverty one week, only to quietly approve substantial raise packages the next?
When you stack these police and fire department raises alongside fiber bonds, the Event Center, and tax-exempt housing developments, a 1% revenue growth rate simply cannot keep up. Something has to give.
Hold Council Accountable: 2 Questions to Ask
Anacortes taxpayers deserve straight answers about long-term solvency. If you attend the next City Council meeting, step up to the mic and ask these two questions on the public record:
- “Under the 1% property tax cap, which line items, reserve funds, or city services will be cut to absorb this $2 million increase?”
- “Will the city publish a 4-year General Fund forecast so taxpayers can see how all these projects and labor deals are being funded?”
We need a sustainable, long-term financial plan and no more late-night surprises.
Sal Walker
Anacortes, WA