How Tigard is run
Who runs Tigard, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Tigard's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Tigard
A city manager appointed by the council runs the city day to day. The council, a mayor and six councilors all elected citywide, sets policy; the mayor presides at council meetings.
What they are paid
- $6,000 a year vehicle allowance
- City puts 11% of salary into a 401(a) retirement plan
- City matches deferred compensation up to 3% of base salary
- Six months' salary as severance if fired while able to work
- 60 extra hours of paid time off each July 1
Tigard city staff
354 full-time-equivalent positions. FY2026-27 approved budget. City of Tigard · Jun 9, 2026
The budget states the total number of positions. We found no list of pay by employee. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Tigard in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
Savings
Unassigned general fund balance: $26M (2025-06-30). City of Tigard · Dec 19, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Goes to (FY2026-27)
- Police$26M · 53%
- Engagement and innovation$8.9M · 18%
- Investment and infrastructure$7.2M · 15%
- Transfers to other funds$5.1M · 11%
- Contingency$1M · 2%
- Policy and administration$461,422 · 1%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Tigard is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityTigard Police DepartmentCity of Tigard · Dec 19, 2025
- WaterThe cityCity of TigardOperated and maintained in partnership with the City of Lake Oswego.City of Tigard · Dec 19, 2025
- Sewer and stormwaterThe cityCity of TigardTigard owns and maintains the pipes under an agreement with Clean Water Services.City of Tigard · Dec 19, 2025
- Streets and sidewalksThe cityCity of TigardCity of Tigard · Dec 19, 2025
- Parks and recreationThe cityCity of TigardCity of Tigard · Dec 19, 2025
- Municipal courtThe cityTigard Municipal CourtCity of Tigard · Dec 19, 2025
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | AlbanyOR | TigardOR | SpringfieldOR | CorvallisOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 56,894 | 57,929 | 61,431 | 61,499 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $237,770 | $220,000 | Not confirmed | $233,198 |
| Council member pay | $1,560 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | No salary |
| General fund per resident | $2,151 | $841 | $1,039 | $3,065 |
| Debt per resident | $1,329 | $2,108 | $475 | $283 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $1,184 | $255 | $1,043 | $1,126 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 7.2 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 8.7 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how).
What Tigard publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Adopted budget posted onlineThe FY2026-27 budget resolution and schedule of appropriations are in the June 9, 2026 council packet. City of Tigard · Jun 9, 2026
- Yes: City manager's contract findable online City of Tigard · Jul 7, 2026
- No: Council votes recorded member by member onlineThe council agendas and packets we read did not list votes by member. We did not check minutes. City of Tigard · Jun 9, 2026
- No: Council pay stated in a public documentWe did not find council pay in the audited report or the budget adoption packet. City of Tigard · Jun 9, 2026
- No: Employee pay publishedWe found no list of pay by employee in the documents we read. City of Tigard · Jun 9, 2026
Questions to ask your council
- The FY2025 audited report says a general fund deficit is forecast for fiscal year 2029. What changes in the FY2026-27 budget address it, and what more is planned?
- Police make up $26.0 million of the $48.7 million FY2026-27 general fund budget. How will police costs be kept in line with the city's property tax revenue?
- The city owed $122.1 million in bonds and notes on June 30, 2025, mostly for water. How will water debt payments affect water rates?
The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. The Budget Committee, the council plus seven residents, reviewed the city manager's proposed FY2026-27 budget on May 4, 11 and 18, 2026. The council held the budget hearing and adopted it on June 9, 2026. Oregon law requires adoption by June 30. See who is running for council
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