Bremerton’s Budget Mess
Mayor Wheeler inherited a strong budget, complete with a $15 million rainy day fund. The Mayor’s 2025-26 budget will deplete that fund to $6m and our city is deep in the red. Jeff Coughlin voted against the budget, the only city council member to do so.
Bremerton wasn’t built in a day…
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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 imprudent spending is Bremerton City Council member Jeff Coughlin. Coughlin voted against the 2025-26 budget last fall. And he has repeatedly pressed the Mayor to open a process to adjust the budget. He argues that facing our problems sooner will allow for less dramatic cuts to city services and fewer tax increases.
In contrast, Mayor Wheeler says everything is just fine. He defends spending down reserves, says no adjustments need be made, and calls the 2025-26 budget fiscally responsible. He seems to be hoping to avoid the issue until after the election.
Profile in Courage
In Nov 2024, Bremerton passed Mayor Wheeler’s 2-year biennial budget that blew up our budget, with a $7.0 million deficit in 2025 and a $5.0 million deficit in 2026.
CM Jeff Wheeler spoke out against the budget deficit and was the only city council member to vote against it.
Bremerton’s ballooning deficit
Deficit Disaster: His administration began running a deficit in 2023, and it's only worsened. In 2024, the city spent an alarming $8 million more than it collected. Projections show deficits of $7 million in 2025 and $5 million in 2026.
Irresponsible Spending: Even after these dire budget warnings, Mayor Wheeler negotiated large pay raises for city workers, pushing us further into financial peril.
Wasteful Contracting: The city continues to rely on expensive contractors like Parametrix, rather than completing engineering in-house. Parametrix is currently working on no fewer than 7 city contracts, totaling more than $3 million.
Bremerton needs a mayor who will tackle our budget crisis head-on, not ignore it.
