
The information collected will help shape the 2025-26 Biennial Budget
Vancouver, Wash. – The city of Vancouver is launching its community survey on Wednesday (June 12) and urges residents to “pick up” the phone to tell the city what they think about livability, city services and priorities.
“The community’s input is an important component of the budget development process,” said Communications Director Laura Shepard. “Taking the survey is a great opportunity to share your thoughts and priorities surrounding services.”
The information collected will help shape the 2025-26 Biennial Budget. The community survey is one touchpoint of many that the city will use to help inform how to close the $43 million budget gap for this biennium.
The gap is due to the compounding impacts of significant inflation across all spending categories, particularly labor costs. Also, a softening of revenues due to slowing growth and the incremental costs of added programs in recent years have contributed to a deficit between what it costs to provide services and what is available to provide them.
The city is working with DHM Research to conduct the survey. Individuals will be contacted by call and/or text message. Community members will know it is the city’s survey because the area code will be 564. The results will be published on the city’s website.
Later this summer, the city will open an online prioritization tool where community members can also provide input to the budget process.
City Manager Eric Holmes will present his proposed 2025-26 Biennial Budget to the City Council on Oct. 1. Information about the budget can be found at 2025-26 Biennial Budget Process.
Information provided by the city of Vancouver.
Also read:
- OII completes investigation into Clark County Sheriff’s Office use of deadly force in July of 2025A 77-page OII report on the July 30, 2025 death of Branden Whitcomb now goes to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.
- VIDEO: Entrepreneur exodus continues as Washington’s new income tax loomsVenice.ai founder Jesse Proudman says Washington’s new income tax is the final blow driving him and others out of the state.
- WA gets $538M in delayed COVID-era payments from FEMAFEMA is sending $538M to Washington state health departments and hospital systems for COVID-era costs after years of delays.
- Opinion: When you’ve lost Christine Gregoire, you’ve lost WashingtonFormer Gov. Gregoire says Washington’s $80B budget reflects a spending problem, not an income problem.
- Letter: Present bridge plan has been in the expensive and unworkable planning stage far too long with no real end in sightBrush Prairie resident Bob Mattila argues the I-5 Bridge plan doubles costs by including light rail on the span.
- Letter: Stop turning gas prices into war propagandaCamas resident Tony Teso fires back at Jonathan Hines, arguing militarism won’t lower fuel costs for working families.
- Letter: Compassion requires accountabilityA medical provider and downtown Vancouver resident challenges whether current homelessness policies produce measurable results.








