City of Washougal launches Strategic Plan dashboard

The city of Washougal has launched a strategic plan dashboard to provide residents, businesses, and community partners with a way to track progress on its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. The dashboard is designed as a transparent reporting and engagement tool, allowing the public to follow how city leadership is implementing the plan’s five priority areas and measuring progress over time, according to a news release. “By making progress and performance data publicly available, the dashboard helps residents and businesses see how city priorities translate into services, infrastructure, and community outcomes over time,” the news release states. The five priorities of the city’s 2023–2028 Strategic Plan are economic development and community prosperity; financial health and core services; vibrant town center; smart growth; and redefined community identity. On the dashboard, each priority area includes measurable data tied to plan outcomes, along with a “How We’re Doing” section that explains progress in plain language. For goals that are tracked annually, users can view historical trends by selecting the “more information” option associated with each data point, the news release states. “The dashboard reflects our commitment to accountability and transparency,” said City Manager David Scott. “We promised the community we would continue to monitor and report on our progress, and this tool helps us do that in a consistent and accessible way.” The dashboard shows that Washougal currently has 852 licensed and active businesses, an increase of 5.4 percent over the past year; median household income has reached an all-time high of $100,916, up 3.7 percent from last year; there are 2,348 “living wage jobs” in Washougal, nearly triple the amount of such jobs a decade ago; and increased revenues from lodging tax, sales tax, and new construction sales tax. “Together, these indicators help illustrate Washougal’s economic conditions and their relevance to residents and businesses,” the news release states. “Growth in licensed and active businesses reflects a healthy local market that supports job opportunities, daily services, and a stable tax base for community needs. Rising median household income and more living wage jobs point to increasing financial stability and the city’s ability to attract and retain residents and employers over time. Increased tax revenues demonstrate growth in tourism, construction, and retail activity.” The dashboard, which was shaped by Washougal residents, elected officials, city employees, and community stakeholders, will be updated quarterly to reflect new data and milestones. “This plan was created to guide our decisions and help achieve our community’s goals,” Scott said. “It’s encouraging to see the progress we’ve made and to know we are on track to keep building a stronger community.” The dashboard is available at cityofwashougal.us/StrategicPlanDashboard.

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