City HallThursday, November 5
Seattle's budget chair unveils a package that would add about $55.5 million to the mayor's plan
The SEAtoday team
If you follow City Hall, this is budget crunch week. Councilmember Dan Strauss, the budget chair, released his “balancing package” Tuesday. It would net-add about $55.5 million to Mayor Katie Wilson's 2027-28 proposal amid a $175 million general fund hole. The Center Square got that figure from its own review of the package.
Wilson's $9.1 billion budget cut spending and proposed no new taxes. Strauss said it “unnecessarily took austere measures.” He said the council could use revenue from the county's recent sales tax increase, improved forecasts, an off-cycle JumpStart payroll-tax payment and reduced reserve contributions.
- Hearing: Select Budget Committee, Thursday
- Other amendments due: Monday
- Fire overtime restored: $14.2 million through 2028
- Parking enforcement: $1.92 million for nine vacant jobs
An RV safe lot tops the listed additions beyond the mayor's budget at about $7.12 million
Source: NCWLIFE
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| RV safe lot | $7.12 million |
| District transportation | $7 million |
| Central District, Southeast | $6.4 million |
| Gender-based violence | $5 million |
| Housing | $5 million |
Not everything made the cut. Strauss said “There is little to no additional room for ongoing funding,” and he won't support any amendment that takes his plan out of balance, since several additions use one-time funds.
The package leaves out $12 million for police recruit hiring
Source: NCWLIFE
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| SPD recruit hiring | $12 million |
| Crisis response, per year | $2.3 million |
| Graffiti cleanup, per year | $1.45 million |
| Potholes, 2027 | $1.25 million |
Sources: NCWLIFE, The Seattle Times