The 5 Critical Battles: What The Association Of Washington Cities (AWC) Is Fighting For In 2025

The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) stands as the primary advocate for Washington’s 281 cities and towns, acting as a crucial bridge between local municipal governments and the state legislature in Olympia. As of late 2025, the organization is deeply engaged in shaping its legislative agenda, focusing on critical issues that directly impact the quality of life, fiscal health, and operational capacity of communities across the state.

The AWC’s work is not merely about lobbying; it is a comprehensive effort to provide essential services, training, and risk management programs to its members. With new leadership recently elected and a fresh strategic plan guiding its 2025-2027 operations, the AWC is positioning itself to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing Washington's diverse urban and rural landscapes today, from public safety mandates to long-term infrastructure funding.

AWC's 2025 Leadership and Organizational Profile

The AWC is governed by a Board of Directors composed of elected city officials from across Washington, ensuring its priorities are directly informed by the needs of local communities. The organization’s profile and key leadership, particularly those elected in the summer of 2025, reflect a commitment to broad representation and experienced municipal governance.

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• Organization Name: Association of Washington Cities (AWC)
• Establishment: Founded in 1933
• Headquarters: Olympia, Washington
• Membership: Represents Washington’s 281 cities and towns.
• Primary Mission: To advocate for cities at the state and federal levels, provide training, and offer cost-saving services.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Deanna Dawson
• President (Elected July 2025): Fred Brink (Mayor Pro Tem, West Richland)
• Vice President: Jon Nehring (Mayor, Marysville)
• Secretary (Elected July 2025): Matthew Lundh (Mayor, Cle Elum)
• Strategic Plan Focus (2025–2027): Modernize the AWC website, enhance support for small cities and towns, and continue to provide outstanding support to Member Pooling Programs.

The 5 Pillars of AWC's 2025 Legislative Agenda

The AWC's Legislative Priorities Committee has been hard at work developing the agenda for the upcoming legislative session, focusing on issues that provide cities with the necessary tools and resources to govern effectively. The key battles for 2025 center on funding mandates, local control, and essential municipal services.

1. Securing Full Funding for State-Mandated Indigent Defense

This is arguably one of the most pressing fiscal battles for Washington cities in 2025. The Washington Supreme Court has issued new orders that significantly lower caseload mandates for public defenders, an essential and costly service.

• The Challenge: Cities are legally required to provide indigent defense services, but the new, lower caseload standards dramatically increase the cost of compliance.
• AWC’s Position: The AWC is advocating for a substantial increase in state support and funding to cover the existing needs and the new mandates, arguing that the state should fund the services it mandates.
• Related Entities: Washington Supreme Court, Washington State Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA).

2. Enhancing City Revenue Flexibility and Fiscal Health

Cities rely heavily on local revenue sources, and the AWC continually works to ensure municipalities have the financial tools to adapt to changing economic conditions and community needs. This priority is fundamental to local control and fiscal sustainability.

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• The Focus: AWC seeks to modernize and streamline revenue options, potentially including changes to the state's tax structure to allow cities greater local revenue flexibility.
• The Goal: To move away from an over-reliance on a few revenue streams and allow cities like Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma to better finance local priorities such as public safety and parks.
• LSI Keywords: Municipal finance, local tax authority, revenue diversification, fiscal sustainability.

3. Investing in Critical Infrastructure and Resilience

From aging water systems to modernizing transportation networks, infrastructure funding remains a top priority. The AWC advocates for state and federal partnerships to ensure Washington cities can maintain and expand essential public works.

• Key Areas: Transportation infrastructure, utility systems (water, sewer), and broadband expansion, especially for smaller, rural communities.
• Federal Advocacy: AWC’s federal legislative priorities include maintaining stable federal government operations and continuing investment in local public works.
• Related Entities: U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Public Works Board.

4. Addressing Homelessness and Behavioral Health

The complexity of the homelessness crisis requires a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional approach. The AWC champions policies that provide resources for a sustainable and effective local response, often tied to public safety and health outcomes.

• Advocacy Point: Collaborating with groups like the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to secure dedicated funding for local public safety, particularly in the area of behavioral health services.
• The Impact: This funding is crucial for cities like Des Moines and Monroe to manage the intersection of mental health, substance abuse, and public disorder in their communities.
• LSI Keywords: Housing affordability, crisis response, mental health services, community-based decision-making.

5. Reducing City Liability Exposure and Protecting Assets

Protecting cities from financial risk is a continuous effort, championed by the AWC’s own programs. The legislative focus is on measures that reduce municipal liability exposure and preserve local government authority.

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• The Goal: To ensure state law does not impose undue liability burdens on cities, protecting taxpayer dollars and operational budgets.
• AWC Program Link: This priority is directly supported by the AWC Risk Management Service Agency (RMSA), which provides full-service risk management, training, and grant programs to protect the employees, assets, and officials of Washington's cities and towns.
• Related Entities: AWC Risk Management Service Agency (RMSA), AWC Employee Benefit Trust, Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA).

Beyond Legislation: AWC's Critical Support Programs

While legislative advocacy is the public face of the AWC, its core value to members lies in its innovative support programs that build capacity and foster better governance at the local level. These programs are vital for city resilience and sustainability.

The Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute (WA-CELI)

In an era of increasing political polarization, the AWC, in partnership with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, launched the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute (WA-CELI).

• Purpose: WA-CELI is a four-month, immersive training program designed to enhance collaborative leadership capacity among elected officials.
• Core Skills: Participants learn how to build trust, govern across differences, and tackle complex, real-world problems in small, bipartisan teams.
• Significance: This initiative directly addresses the need for a more collaborative political culture in Washington state, ensuring that city councils and municipal leaders can work together effectively for their constituents.

AWC's Pooling Programs and Training Resources

The AWC provides several pooling programs that offer cost-saving benefits and comprehensive risk protection to member cities. These programs are essential for small cities and towns that may lack the resources of larger municipalities.

• AWC Risk Management Service Agency (RMSA): As noted, this agency is the full-service choice for managing risk, offering resources, training, and grant programs to improve safety and reduce liability.
• AWC Employee Benefit Trust: Provides comprehensive, cost-effective health and welfare benefits to city employees.
• AWC Workers’ Comp Retro Program: Helps cities manage workers’ compensation costs through safety programs and claims management.
• Training and Data: The AWC also hosts annual events like City Action Days and the Annual Conference, providing city leaders with the latest advocacy news, insider panels, and legislative updates.

The Association of Washington Cities remains an indispensable resource for municipal government in the state. Its 2025 agenda, led by new President Fred Brink and CEO Deanna Dawson, underscores a commitment to fiscal responsibility, local autonomy, and collaborative problem-solving. By focusing on critical issues like indigent defense funding, infrastructure, and developing collaborative leadership through programs like WA-CELI, the AWC is actively working to ensure that Washington’s cities and towns—from the smallest municipality to the largest city—are equipped to thrive in the coming years.