During the City of SeaTac’s recent annual City Council retreat, both the Mayor and City Council received a mid–year update of the city’s economic status and the news is encouraging.

“While not immune to the wider economic downturn, the City’s fiscal position is strong even though some important revenues sources have declined,” said Mayor Ralph Shape. “Despite the bad news of the national economy and the challenges facing many municipalities in our region and around the country, the benefits of fiscal prudence and careful planning over many years are helping the City of SeaTac weather the storm.”

The City was able to trim nearly a million dollars of general fund expenses this year without reducing services to residents or businesses. The City has also identified investments that can be delayed, as needed, until revenue levels return to normal.

“Even better news may be on the horizon,” said Craig Ward, SeaTac’s City Manager. “Years of a strategic investments, low taxes, and careful grooming of our economic opportunities have positioned us well to maintain our budgets and recover more quickly from this downturn than many other cities.”

Recent investments in public facilities, roads and parks have developed an infrastructure that will support more private sector investments, as the City still sees taking place new airport–oriented developments, light rail stations, and residential neighborhoods.

The City of SeaTac was incorporated in Feb. 1990, and is 10 square miles in area and has a population of 25,230. SeaTac is a vibrant community, economically strong, environmentally sensitive, and people-oriented. The City boundaries surround the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, (approximately 3 square miles in area) which is owned and operated by the Port of Seattle.

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