budget cuts

Those who support Yakima Valley Trolley's are also expected to show up at the council meeting.

Yakima City Council members on Tuesday voted in favor of the increase in 2026 to help fill a $9 million deficit.

The city of Yakima's budget is balanced for 2026 after Tuesday's Yakima City Council meeting.

The city will look at an ordinance to authorize a new 0.1% sales and use tax, designed to support criminal justice programs.

. It's the time when council members need to look hard at bottom line numbers and cut millions from the budget.

City officials say parks, police and fire are at the top of the cut list with proposed cuts.

Ross says more than a 1,000 ballots will be counted Monday afternoon and smaller amounts from the post office may be counted later this week.

If approved the levy would raise $6 million dollars to help in the city deficit problem. The other $3 million would come from proposed cuts.

Deputy Mayor Matt Brown says the council is expected to get a list of cuts needed to be made in the city to help fill a shortfall in 2026.

If the unit is cut, Yakima Police Chief Shawn Boyle says he's concerned about an increase in local gang activity.