While there are many reasons for the improvement, including determination by the city council, finance committee and others, the credit should go squarely to Sonja Springer and her good staff. Springer runs a very clean and straightforward operation and has a reputation for award winning and clean financials.  Credit should also go to Mayor Nicola Smith for the clever hire of Springer away from Mountlake Terrace. Smith has made other great hires and her mayoral leadership from top to bottom has really helped the culture at Lynnwood. Many years of institutional chaos kept Lynnwood in the dark. Mayor Smith and Sonja Springer have Lynnwood out of the dark and "back in the black."  BTW., without Mayor Smith's leadership, there wouldn't be a consolidation with the Lynnwood Fire and FD1. This alone has the potential to save the tax payers plenty of bank.