Welcome to The Newsfeed.

The city of Tacoma is in the midst of working to close a roughly $40 million general fund shortfall, with projections its deficit will balloon in the next two years.

New City Manager Hyun Kim recently detailed a new strategic plan called the Roadmap to Recovery, an effort to close its multi-million dollar fiscal gap.

Tacoma mayor Anders Ibsen tells us more about how the city can get back on course in our sit down conversation.

Tacoma isn't unique, as you've mentioned, in its financial challenges.

Like many cities in Washington.

The city has a projected $40 million general fund deficit, and it's anticipated to grow in the next biennium.

What changes have you made already and what lies ahead?

-Well, I've cut my own expenses in the mayor's office right now in terms of a lot of my own travel, my involvement.

We have a hiring freeze currently.

We've already gone through reduction exercises with our departments.

But a budget isn't just simply about cutting.

And it's not just simply a numbers exercise.

It's people.

It's about how we make your life better.

And so as part of our, what's called Road to Recovery program, we're going to be using this budget exercise not just to keep costs under control.

Because what does that really mean?

I mean numbers by themselves don't mean anything to the average Tacoman.

It's the cop arriving on time.

It's your street looking dignified.

It's making sure people are getting assistance instead of that encampment remaining on your home for month after month after month.

Right.

And so what we're really looking at is using the budget as a moral document that's in line with our stated strategy that we build with you, that we co-create with the community using this exercise, even if we do have to make tough choices to actually make these services better.

-Tomorrow Mayor Ibsen tells us about efforts to tackle the city's homelessness issues.

I'm Paris Jackson.

Thanks for watching The Newsfeed.