The city of North Bend has put out a request for proposal, soliciting bids for future policing services within the city.

North Bend put out the request for proposal on March 14, “seeking proposals from qualified entities to provide local policing services,” according to the request for proposal document. Interested parties have until 5 p.m. March 31 to submit a written proposal and will be required to give a presentation to North Bend City Council at a work study April 8. A review committee will then provide city council with its recommendation at the April 15 council meeting.

Since 2012, Snoqualmie and North Bend have had an interlocal agreement for the Snoqualmie Police Department to provide services for the city of North Bend, which does not have its own police department. Currently, North Bend is receiving police services from SPD under the 2025 Renewal Interlocal Agreement, which will go through May 31, 2025, unless the cities come to a new agreement before then.

After news last fall that North Bend is facing an estimated $26 million budget gap, largely due to the cost of emergency services, the city is looking closely at its options. These include continuing to contract with Snoqualmie, entering into a contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office, or forming a city of North Bend police department.

The city’s objectives, according to the proposal document, include long-term financial stability, quality policing services for a growing community, and policing services that provide trust and transparency. The city requires at least two patrol officers within city limits from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day and at least one patrol officer within city limits at all other times.

Last month, North Bend Mayor Mary Miller told the Snoqualmie Valley Record that the city will continue looking for ways to reduce costs of services, regardless of the chosen contract.

“Long-term financial sustainability, and maintaining existing policing and non-police city services that the residents of North Bend have come to enjoy and expect, will be critical and a fundamental goal of the North Bend City Council,” she said.

The request for proposal can be accessed at northbendwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6866.