Anacortes city officials opened a public hearing on the city’s 2026 operating budget and capital facilities plan on Nov. 17, with staff reporting the draft budget now totals about $115.4 million, an increase of roughly $685,000 from the mayor’s earlier message.

Finance staff said the change reflected several line‑item adjustments and timing shifts. “It’s currently at a 115,400,000.0, difference of 685,000,” staff told the council, describing transfers and capital timing that moved costs between funds.

Why it matters: Council must adopt a balanced budget before the end of the year. Several programs under consideration — from library services to public safety — could be affected by how the city uses one‑time reserves, grant cash and new revenue assumptions.

Public commenters urged protecting library teen services and preserving prevention programs. David Maynard (who said his name is pronounced “Menard”), a longtime library worker, asked council to “consider letting Diana [Farnsworth] continue to serve Anacortes teens,” highlighting the library’s role as a safe after‑school space. A local psychotherapist warned of ongoing youth mental‑health needs and cited a 2025 PeaceHealth figure saying “one in six tenth graders reported having suicidal thoughts in the past year,” urging the council to keep teen supports in place.

Opioid‑settlement funds drew extended debate. Finance staff identified roughly $365,000 available in opioid dollars after prior spending; the draft budget includes $110,000 of planned uses: $80,000 to cover half the cost of a School Resource Officer (SRO) for one year and $30,000 for an Anacortes Family Center (AFC) social‑worker contract. Councilmembers discussed shifting a larger share of those funds to the countywide STAR Center, a proposed detox/treatment facility intended to serve multiple jurisdictions. “We should be spending the opioid settlement money on opioid‑directed functions, which would clearly include the STAR Center,” Councilmember Walters said.

After discussion, council members signaled a working plan that would preserve the $110,000 commitment for local items while directing the remainder of available opioid funds toward STAR Center support, with staff instructed to monitor cash flow and return with firmer numbers in early 2026. At one point the dais referred to a possible approximately $240,000 contribution to the STAR Center depending on year‑end balances.

Council also reviewed proposed capital items and budget adjustments — including transfers to parks for a parking lot/restroom project and alignment between operating and capital plans — and confirmed that the city met public‑notice requirements for both hearings. Staff said they would bring any council‑directed changes back for final adoption at the next scheduled meeting.

What’s next: Staff will return with final ordinance language and any adjustments to allocations; the council signaled plans to revisit opioid‑fund allocations in March–April 2026, and to finalize the 2026 budget at the next meeting.

(Reporting based on the Nov. 17 Anacortes City Council public hearing and staff presentations.)