Pullman Cut City Staff to Balance Budget

The city has reduced its workforce by 31 full-time equivalent positions amid ongoing budgetary adjustments.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Jobs — General

Pullman Cut City Staff to Balance Budget

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Do you support staff reductions in your city to balance the municipal budget?

The City of Pullman has laid off five employees and reduced the hours of one worker as part of a larger plan to balance the municipal budget. These measures follow a series of staffing changes implemented throughout 2026.

Why it matters

The city is struggling to reconcile its municipal budget, leading to widespread workforce reductions to manage fiscal constraints. These actions aim to lower operational costs as the city prepares for upcoming biennial budget cycles.

A total of 12 employees are impacted by the recent staff reductions, including five layoffs and one hour reduction. These figures contribute to a broader decline of 31 full-time equivalent positions across the city this year.

The players

City of Pullman

The local municipal government responsible for managing public services and fiscal policy in Pullman.

The details

In addition to the immediate personnel cuts, the city is terminating six reserve firefighter positions. The local government has also utilized hiring freezes and voluntary separations to manage the workforce reduction, which has seen the total city headcount drop by about 10% since January.

The city began its workforce reduction period in January 2026.
Staff layoffs and hour reductions were implemented in October 2026.
City officials will present the 2027-2028 Biennial Budget on October 20, 2026.
Six reserve firefighter positions will be terminated on November 9, 2026.

Market Landscape

The downsizing follows the broader municipal trend of consolidating public workforces to meet fiscal targets. These cuts position the city to operate under tighter constraints as it prepares for the 2027-2028 Biennial Budget.

Residents may notice changes in municipal service availability due to the 10% reduction in city staffing levels. These personnel shifts are specifically intended to stabilize the municipal budget for the next two years.

The takeaway

The City of Pullman is prioritizing fiscal stability by reducing its total workforce by 10% over the course of the year. Residents should monitor upcoming budget presentations to understand how these staff levels will impact local service delivery in the coming biennial period.

What happens next

The City of Pullman is scheduled to present its 2027-2028 Biennial Budget to the City Council on October 20, 2026. Additionally, the termination of six reserve firefighter positions will take effect on November 9, 2026.