City of Bremerton has a huge budget deficit and is draining our reserves. The 2025-26 biennial General Fund budget is projecting a $7.0 million deficit in 2025 and a $5.0 million deficit in 2026. The City's strategic reserves will be depleted by 63%, from $16.7 million in December 2024 to just $5.9 million by December 2026.

The budget, proposed and supported by Mayor Greg Wheeler, is in deficit because revenues have remained flat while spending has increased dramatically. Last year, the City General Fund (administration, parks, public safety) spent $54.8million. This year, the Mayor increased expenditures to $62.7million, a whopping 14% increase. The biggest increase was in the Mayor’s executive office itself, which increased its own budget by 54%!

Leading the charge against the impruden

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