The City of Edmonds appears to be currently following a specific “fiscal sustainability” playbook previously utilized by Mountlake Terrace. Baker Tilly is a massive global advisory and accounting firm (one of the largest in the U.S.). While the City’s contract with Baker Tilly is officially for “financial forecasting,” the primary value Baker Tilly provides is navigating the politics of tax increases. Let’s not forget how the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) annexation was promoted and sold to Edmonds as a “good thing for Edmonds.” Perhaps the City should assign our new City Administrator Stephanie Lucash to manage the fiscal sustainability project and put the Baker Tilly contract on the backburner.