Olympia honors city workforce, proclaims May as Public Service Recognition Month

The Olympia City Council proclaimed May 2026 as Public Service Recognition Month, honoring more than 700 employees for sustaining core services in the city.

“Public service is not just a job, it is a commitment to people,” said City Manager Jay Burney to the council as he accepted the proclamation on behalf of staffers at a meeting on April 28.

“The work of our employees touches every aspect of our daily life — from public safety, parks and recreation, public works, housing, planning and permitting, environmental stewardship, the economy, and much more.”

Burney praised the “compassion and dedication” of employees and urged the public to join the council in recognizing the workers who keep Olympia running.

The proclamation highlighted several national and professional observances in May, including:

• May 3-9, Professional Municipal Clerk Week: It honors the oldest roles in public service and recognizes city clerks for their vital work in promoting government transparency and ensuring public records are open and accessible to all members of the community.
• May 4-8, Economic Development Week: It celebrates and acknowledges the contributions made by economic development professionals in creating vibrant and livable communities, and in making equitable paths to prosperity for all members of the community.
• May 10-16, National Police Week: It recognizes the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers, particularly those officers who have been killed in the line of duty while protecting the community.
• May 17 -23, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week: It acknowledges that EMS is a critical public service that improves survival and recovery outcomes for people who are injured.
• May 17-23, 2026, National Public Works Week: It marks its 66th year in 2026 and honors public works employees for their roles in maintaining clean water, safe streets, reliable infrastructure and overall community well-being.

Mayor Dontae Payne, who signed the proclamation on April 28, expressed appreciation for city employees, saying their daily work, both visible and behind the scenes, is essential to keeping the city running.

“I thank you not just as mayor, but as someone who lives in this community and understands what it means to have dedicated people working on behalf of all of us, so we can feel safe and supported every day,” Payne said.