VIBe Check

Let’s start with the good news. Bellevue residents feel overwhelmingly positive about their city. According to the survey, 74% of voters say Bellevue is headed in the right direction, and nearly 80% are optimistic about the city’s future. That optimism is backed by strong public trust in civic institutions. The Bellevue Police Department received the highest favorability rating of any organization in the survey, with a net score of +80. The City Council, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Association also scored positively, with all three rebounding from slight declines in 2024.

So, what is fueling that confidence? Voters cite Bellevue’s clean and well-maintained neighborhoods, its strong economy, the diversity of its community, and the overall feeling of safety. People enjoy living here. They like the balance between urban opportunity and suburban livability, and they recognize that thoughtful leadership has played a role in making that possible.

Still, voters are not without concerns, and one issue clearly stands out: Affordability. Nearly one in three respondents identified affordability as the most important problem facing the city, a ten-point jump from 2024. Two-thirds of voters say they are worried about their personal financial situation.

This concern shows up across all age groups, but is particularly sharp among younger residents and families. Housing costs, healthcare, and taxes were the top three areas of financial strain reported by respondents. While voters generally support the idea of building more housing, especially affordable apartment units, they are much less supportive of raising taxes to fund low-income housing programs. Only 35% said they would support new sales or property taxes for this purpose.

In short, residents want the city to expand housing options, but they expect those solutions to come from smarter planning and private investment rather than new tax burdens.

Public safety is another area where voters have strong opinions. The vast majority feel safe in their own neighborhoods (91%) and even downtown at night (82%). But that sense of safety does not mean residents want to see the city slow down on enforcement.

In fact, 71% say hiring more police officers should be an immediate priority, and 90% support a proposed ordinance that would create mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders of certain public disorder crimes like shoplifting and vehicle prowling. There is also wide support for a balanced approach to drug policy, with most voters agreeing that treatment should be offered but that consequences are necessary when individuals repeatedly refuse help.

Voters are telling us clearly that they want Bellevue to remain a safe and welcoming place, and that means investing in both prevention and accountability.

When it comes to growth and development, Bellevue voters are largely in favor, with some exceptions. Only 17% of respondents said they believe growth has been a negative for the city. In fact, 80% say that tech-driven economic development has been good for Bellevue overall.

At the same time, opinions are more divided when it comes to increasing density in single-family neighborhoods. Just over half of respondents support allowing things like duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and other infill housing, while the rest remain hesitant. There is a clear preference for growth to be concentrated near job centers, transit corridors, and existing infrastructure.

This is a nuanced conversation, but the trend is clear: Voters are open to more housing and development, but they want it to be thoughtful, well-placed, and aligned with Bellevue’s character.

Transportation is another area where residents showed strong preferences. There is overwhelming support for practical infrastructure investments. Voters expressed high levels of support for maintaining and expanding sidewalks, fixing intersections, and adding general-purpose road lanes. These are the kinds of everyday improvements that make it easier to live, work, and travel in Bellevue.

On the flip side, voters were much more skeptical of bike infrastructure that reduces vehicle capacity. Proposals to replace car lanes with bike lanes saw a net opposition of -36. Even bike lanes added alongside car lanes received only mixed support.

What this tells us is that residents are not against bike infrastructure in general. They simply want to see it implemented in ways that make sense for Bellevue’s current and future transportation needs.

Trust in local government is generally positive, though there is still room to grow. Sixty-three percent of voters say they trust the City of Bellevue to spend tax dollars responsibly. However, half of respondents also said they feel taxes are too high for the level of services they currently receive. Just over one-third of voters believe city taxes and regulations are a major factor in the region’s high cost of living.

The takeaway? Voters expect transparency and efficiency. They want to know where their money is going, and they want to feel confident that it is being used wisely. Budget stewardship will continue to be a key factor in how residents evaluate city leadership.

As Bellevue continues to grow and evolve, the VIBe survey will serve as an important tool for understanding how residents experience life in the city. From housing and safety to infrastructure and economic policy, this year’s results show that voters are engaged, thoughtful, and invested in the future of their community.

They are asking for leadership that protects what makes Bellevue special while embracing smart, practical changes that support a high quality of life for everyone. The VIBe is clear, this community wants progress with purpose.