CITY OF KIRKLAND
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PROJECT NAME: Revenue Equity and Sustainability Study
JOB NUMBER: 41-21-FA
FEDERAL AID NUMBER: SLT-4378 (A.R.P.A)
PROPOSALS DUE: January 7, 2022 no later than 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time
PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO: Purchasing Agent, 123 5th Ave, Kirkland, WA 98033
Public notice is hereby given that the City of Kirkland has issued the above-mentioned Request for Proposals (RFP). This RFP is to select a consultant to complete a revenue equity and sustainability study to help guide the City’s budgeting process.
The complete RFP, including all submittal requirements, can be found on the City of Kirkland’s website at www.kirklandwa.gov. Locate by clicking on “Business” at the top of the webpage and then “Request for Proposals” under “Doing Business with the City.” Call 425-587-3123 if unable to access RFP documents online.
NON-DISCRIMINATION: The City of Kirkland requires that no person will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity, including in consideration for an award pursuant to this advertisement, on the grounds of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability. The City of Kirkland further assures that every effort will be made to ensure non-discrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether those programs are federally funded or not.
In addition to nondiscrimination compliance requirements, the firm ultimately awarded a contract must comply with federal, state and local laws, statutes, and ordinances relative to the execution of the work. This requirement includes, but is not limited to, protection of public and employee safety and health; environmental protection; waste reduction and recycling; the protection of natural resources; permits; fees; taxes; and similar subjects.
Purpose of Request
The City of Kirkland (“City”) is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct a study to review and evaluate potential changes to City tax policy in response to projected budget shortfalls. The City is interested in how new revenue options would impact the estimated tax burdens of the Kirkland community, including residents and businesses and those who work in the City.
The City of Kirkland’s financial forecast projects a General Fund deficit in future budget cycles that grows on an ongoing basis. This is in large part due to a structural imbalance between the cap on growth in the City’s largest single General Fund revenue source, property tax, and the growth in costs for salaries, benefits and other services. This is a common problem among Washington cities and something that has been resolved in prior budget cycles through cost savings, voter approved levies and one-time revenue sources. In discussion for the 2021-2022 budget cycle, City Council directed staff to assess available revenue options to help close this gap in a sustainable and equitable way.
Early analysis from City of Kirkland staff highlighted a limited number of revenue options available to the City. With these revenue options as a starting point, this request seeks to find a qualified consultant who can identify and assess available revenue options.
The estimated funding available for this work is $100,000 to $150,000 and the timeline anticipates initial results and analysis in May and final report delivery on July 15, 2022.
Jay Gewin
Purchasing Agent
City of Kirkland
425-587-3123
jgewin@kirklandwa.gov
