2025, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING. I'M DAN STRAUSS?. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[ ROLL BEING CALLED ] SIX
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, RIVERA AND
HOLLINGSWORTH ARE EXCUSED UNTIL
THEY ARRIVE. WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA TODAY DURING OUR
FIRST SESSION, AFTER PUBLIC
COMMENT WE WILL HAVE AN
INTRODUCTION AND BUDGET PROCESS
OVERVIEW AND THE CITY'S BUDGET
OFFICE OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. AFTER THAT WE ARE
SCHEDULED TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK
AND SECOND SESSION WILL BEGIN AT
2:00 P.M. WITH A PRESENTATION ON
HOW WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE
POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL CUTS FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
FIRST BRIEFING ON LEGISLATION
RELATING TO A PUBLIC SAFETY
SALES TAX INCREASE. BEFORE WE
BEGIN IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED. I WILL SAVE MY
CHAIR'S COMMENTS UNTIL AFTER
COMMENT. WE WILL OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE HAVE
SOMEONE ELSE SIGNING UP RIGHT
NOW. THIS IS THE FIRST OF SIX
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AND TWO
PUBLIC HEARINGS WE WILL HAVE
DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I
WANTED TO START ABOUT BEING
CLEAR ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME EACH
PERSON WILL HAVE TIME TO SPEAK .
THERE YEAR I PROPOSED AN
AMENDMENT THAT STANDARDIZED THE
MEETING TIME WHILE THAT RULE
WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL
NEXT YEAR WE USED IT LAST YEAR
IN THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
AND WE ARE GOING TO USE IT AGAIN
THERE YEAR. THERE IS HOW IT WILL
WORK. IF THERE ARE FEWER THAN 30
PEOPLE SIGNED UP, EACH PERSON,
AND THIS IS FOR COMMITTEE PUBLIC
COMMENT. IT WILL BE DIFFERENT
THAN OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. IF
THERE ARE FEWER THAN 30 PEOPLE.
EACH PERSON, AND HOLLINGSWORTH
IS NOW PRESENT. WILL RECEIVE TWO
MINUTES F. THERE ARE 30-60
PEOPLE SIGNED UP EACH PERSON
WILL RECEIVE ONE MINUTE. AND IF
THERE ARE MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP WE WILL ADJUST TIME TO
PROVIDE TO ALLOW AS MUCH PUBLIC
COMMENT PUBLIC WHILE ENSURING
COUNCIL IS ABLE TO CONDUCT
BUSINESS THAT DAY. WE HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT IN COMMITTEE AT
THE BEGINNING OF EACH ONE OF THE
SECTIONS OF OUR BUDGET THAT YOU
CAN FIND ON OUR BUDGET CALENDAR.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT IS
ACCEPTED EVERY DAY IF WE HAVE
COMMITY OR NOT. I WILL --
COMMITTEE OR NOT. I WILL CALL ON
THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. WE
HAVE BJ SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY AND
YOU ARE NOT PRESENT. IF YOU WANT
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT THIS
MORNING NOW IS THE TIME TO CALL
IN. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS
PRESENT AS WELL. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> TWO IN PERSON, TWO REMOTE.
>> WONDERFUL. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES, START WITH
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. I WILL
READ THE PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS
WHICH IS THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS UP TO 20 MINUTES,
SPEAKERS WILL CALL IN THE ORDER
THEY REGISTER AND SPEAKERS WILL
CALL ON IN-PERSON FIRST AND THEN
VIRTUAL. WITH THAT WE HAVE HOWIE
WILLIS, WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS,
HERE WE GO. I AM THE POLICY
MANAGER FOR THE SEATTLE
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS IN
DISTRICT FIVE. I WANT TO THANK
MAYOR HARELL FOR EXPANDING
SHELTER AND RESERVING FUNDS TO
DEAL WITH FEDERAL CUTS AND HUMAN
CONTRACTS BY 2% FOR FRONTLINE
STAFF WAGE EQUITY. EVERYONE
SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE
HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE, FOOD AND
MORE THAT THEY NEED TO LIVE A
HEALTHY LIFE. RIGHT NOW, THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHELTER, FEED
AND CARE FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS
STRUGGLE TO HOLD ON TO THE
EXPERIENCED STAFF THEY HAVE WHEN
THEY ARE MAKING SO LITTLE.
SOMETIMES CLOSE TO MINIMUM WAGE.
AND IT WILL BECOME EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN
AND THE LIGHTS ON IF WE LOSE ANY
AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS. WE KNOW
THAT HUMAN SERVICES CAN PAY
THEIR STAFF BARELY, THEY ARE
ABLE TO HOLD ON -- FAIRLY, THEY
ARE ABLE TO HOLD ON TO STAFF,
FILL VACANCIES AND SERVE PEOPLE
BETTER. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET BRINGS US TO A 4%
INCREASE SINCE 2013. JUST OVER
HALF OF THE 7% INCREASE THAT
U-DUB EXPERTS RECOMMENDED WE
ACHIEVE BY LAST YEAR JUST TO
BEGIN TO STEM THE FLOW OF STAFF
LEAVING THE FIELD FOR JOBS
ELSEWHERE. THIS IS GOOD PROGRESS
AND WE HAVE MORE TO DO. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO ENGAGING MORE WITH
YOU THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET
PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU..
>> NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I AM
THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND
CO-CHAIR OF SEATTLE HUMAN
COMMISSION. I WORK AND LIVE IN
DISTRICT 2. WE WANT TO THANK
MAYOR HARELL, HIS TEAM AND
PARTNERS TO RESPOND TO THE PAID
PENALTY EXPERIENCED BY HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS, IT IS A
MUCH-NEEDED STEP TO CLOSING THAT
7% GAP FROM THE U-DUB STUDY IN
2023. IT IS EXCITING TO SEE
INVESTMENT IN FOOD BANKS, MEALS
PROGRAMS, SHELTER, RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND TREATMENT FOR
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER. A LOT
TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IN THE
BUDGET. HOWEVER, WE ARE
DISAPPOINTED THERE ARE NO NEW
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT SENIORS
AND SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE, TROUBLE REGULAR GIVEN
THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT CUTS,
FEDERAL FUNDING EXCLUSIONS AND
THE OVERSEXISM AND MINIMIZATION
OF MEN'S VIOLENCE THAT WE ALL
ARE WITNESSING BUT THAT WILL
HAVE THE MOST SEVERE AND
LIFE-THREATENING CONSEQUENCES ON
VICTIMS. WE ARE WORKING TO
CHANGE THAT STORY FOR SURVIVORS
AND HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
ON THE BUDGET AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WITH
THAT WE WILL TRANSITION TO
ON-LINE PUBLIC COMMENT. BJ YOU
ARE STILL NOT PRESENT BUT --
FENISHA YOU ARE. EVERY TIME I
SAY YOUR NAME I FEEL LIKE I SAY
IT INCORRECTLY. I SEE YOU ARE
HERE AND OFF MUTE. TAKE IT AWAY.
GOOD MORNING
>> YES. YES, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. IT IS SO
CLOSE. WE WILL GET IT IN TIME.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. THIS
MORNING I AM COMMENTING ON
BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO JUST
GAVE COMMENT. AS A REMINDER WE
REPRESENT 200 SERVICE PROVIDERS
IN SEATTLE INCLUDING
ORGANIZATIONS GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE, HOMELESS, FOOD,
SENIORS AND PUBLIC HEALTH. AND
JUST WANT TO WISH YOU ALL AN
OFFICIAL HAPPY FIRST DAY OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS. WE RECOGNIZE AND
APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF WORK
THAT YOU DO ON THE BUDGET AND WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
PARTNERING WITH YOUR OFFICES IN
THE COMING MONTHS TO HELP YOU
CENTER BUDGET DECISIONS AROUND
HUMAN SERVICES AND THE COMMUNITY
THAT WE SUPPORT REALLY NEED
DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES.
I THINK THEY SPOKE TO WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN SEEING IN THE BUDGET
TO ECHO THAT WE ARE REALLY
GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR FOR
LARGELY BALANCING THE BUDGET
WITHOUT DRASTIC CUTS TO CRITICAL
HUMAN SERVICES AND FOR INCLUDING
A BUSTER AGAINST THE FEDERAL A
BANDMENT OF OUR SAFETY NET AND
WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE A 2%
INCREASE FOR WAGES FOR HUMAN
SERVICE WORKERS THAT IS CRITICAL
TO ENSURE OUR FOOD BANKS AND
SHELTERS ARE STAFFED UP AND
READY TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE
WHAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO BRACE
FOR, LOSSES TO STAFF BENEFITS,
HOUSING VOUCHERS AND ERODING OF
OTHER SAFETY NET PROGRAMS, AND
LIKE THEY MENTIONED WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR THE 2% INACROSS,
THAT THE MAYOR INCLUDED WE WANT
TO GROUND THIS NUMBER IN THE
CONTEXT. U-DUB STUDY RECOMMENDED
A TOTAL OF 7% INCREASE BY 2025.
AND THE COUNCIL PASSED
RESOLUTION REFLECTING THIS GOAL.
SO WE JUST ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL
TO FOLLOW-THROUGH AND USE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE 2026
BUDGET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE TIME AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> CHECKING TO SEE IF BJ IS
PRESENT. YOU ARE NOT PRESENT. I
AM GIVING YOU A LAST WARNING, IF
YOU WANT TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT THERE IS YOUR LAST
MOMENT. OKAY, THANK YOU. WITH
THAT, MR. G. IF YOU ARE PRESENT
CAN YOU CONFIRM BJ IS NOT
PRESENT.
>> THAT IS CONFIRMED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. G. WITH THAT
WE WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. THIS NOW COMPLETES OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE FIRST AGENDA
ON THE ITEM AS OUR PRESENTERS
ARE COMING TO THE TABLE I WILL
HAVE MY OPENING REMARKS AND
REFLECTIONS AS WE MOVE INTO THE
FIRST DAY OF THE BUDGET PROCESS,
SEPTEMBER 25, 2025. AND I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE
UNDERTAKING THIS PROCESS IN AN
UNCERTAIN TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY.
WE ARE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT PLACE
THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO. A
DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WHEN I
SUBMITTED MY CHAIR'S PACKAGE IN
THE LAST BUDGET PROCESS THAT IS
HOW RECENT THIS IS. MANY OF OUR
VALUES AS A NATION AND AS A CITY
ARE UNDER ATTACK. IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES ARE LIVING IN FEAR,
FOOD BANKS AND MEAL PROGRAMS ARE
STRUGGLING TO FEED PEOPLE
BECAUSE OF CUTS TO SNAP AND OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IS
UNDERMINED FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
ON TOP OF HIGH INFLATION AND
ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT ARE
CREATING INCREDIBLE VOLATILITY
AND UNCERTAINTY, PUTTING OUR
ECONOMY THROUGH A STRESS TEST.
IT IS SAT TIMES LIKE THIS THAT
WE ARE HERE TO STAND UP, FIGHT
FOR OUR VALUES, ENSURE OUR
GOVERNMENT IS RUNNING AND
FUNCTIONING FOR WORKING FAMILIES
AND TO FIGHT FOR A BETTER
SEATTLE, TO FIGHT FOR A BETTER
AMERICA AND A BETTER WORLD.
TODAY WE DO BEGIN THE JOURNEY OF
A TOUGH JOB BECAUSE DURING THERE
BUDGET CYCLE -- LAST YEAR WE
MADE HARD DECISIONS AND EXPECTED
SLOW GROWTH TO BEGIN AND WITH
THE VOLATILITY AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE YEAR OUR FINANCIAL
SITUATION IS EVEN MORE
UNCERTAIN. WE HAVE TO DELIVER
THE BASICS OF GOOD GOVERNMENT
LIKE FILLING POT HOLES, KEEPING
THE LIGHTS ON AND MAKE SURE
SEATTLE WORKS FOR WORKING
FAMILY. MY NORTH STAR IS
CREATING A SAFER AND AFFORDABLE
CITY WHERE WORKING FAMILIES
THRIVE. AS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ROLLS BACK SOCIAL
SERVICES AND PURSUES
INFLATIONARY POLICIES THAT MAKE
LIFE MORE EXPENSIVE WE MUST PUSH
FORWARD AND THAT STARTS HERE BY
GOING TO BAT FOR THE SERVICES
THAT WE RELY ON. I AM PROUD TO
SEE INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, FOOD ASSISTANCE, PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL
AND I APPRECIATE HIS OFFICE'S
COLLABORATION AS WE WORK TO
STABILIZE THE CITY, THE CITY'S
BUDGET DEFEND OUR VALUES. THERE
IS SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO. I
WANT TO THANK EVERY CITY WORKER.
I RODE THE LIGHT RAIL THIS
MORNING IN FRONT OF AN ARTS AND
CULTURE EMPLOYEE. I DID NOT WANT
TO BOTHER THEM ON THE TRAIN THIS
MORNING AND IT STOOD OUT TO ME
AS I WAS COMMUTING IS THAT SO
MANY PEOPLE MAKE THIS CITY RUN.
SO MANY EVERYDAY PEOPLE THAT
HAVE EVERYDAY LIVES AND
FAMILIES. LAST YEAR WE HAD
REALLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS WHERE
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE
2008 RECESSION WE HAD TO LAY OFF
EMPLOYEES. THAT WAS VERY
DIFFICULT. WE DID EVERYTHING WE
COULD TO ENSURE THOSE EMPLOYEES
FOUND OTHER JOBS BEFORE THEIR
TIME RAN OUT BUT THAT IS -- EACH
OF THOSE PEOPLE REPRESENTED A
FAMILY, POTENTIALLY CHILDREN,
PARENT, AGING PARENTS, ET
CETERA. YOU ALL GET THE POINT.
THESE ARE REAL DECISIONS WE ARE
MAKING HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR WORKING LARD AND EXTENDING
EVERYONE'S EMPLOYMENT SIX
MONTHS PROVIDED TIME FOR PEOPLE
TO MAKE THE NEXT CHOICE. AND TO
FIND THAT NEXT JOB, I SHOULD
SAY, SORRY. MOVING ON TO WHAT WE
HAVE BEFORE US THIS YEAR I GUESS
THE LAST POINTS I WILL MAKE IS
IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WE
ENGAGED IN BUDGET REFORM.
STRUCTURAL AND CONTENT. WE WERE
ABLE TO CLOSE A LARGE BUDGET
GAP. EXPECTED THAT SLOW GROWTH
TO START. IT DID START AND THEN
IT STOPPED. AND SO WE WENT
THROUGH A DIFFICULT PROCESS LAST
YEAR WHERE WE LOOKED UNDER EVERY
COUCH CUSHION AND FOUND EVERY
PENNY AND CREATED ADDITIONAL
BUDGET REFORM IN THE CONTENT
SPACE OF FINDING ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS YEAR BUT REQUESTS SDHR ON
REPORTING ON DEVELOPING PROGRAMS
FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES SUBJECT TO
LAYOFFS, PAST GRANT AND UNDER
SPENT IN GRANTS, THE EXECUTIVE
PROVIDING AN INVENTORY OF
YOUTH-FUNDED PROGRAMS AND
EXPLORING FUNDING CHANNELS AND
STREAMS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR
PROGRAMS THAN THE GENERAL FUND
OR FOR JUMP-START NECESSARILY.
THESE WERE ALL BUDGET REFORMS OF
THE CONTENT OF OUR BUDGET. WE
ADDED ANOTHER WEEK OF THE TIME
HERE FOR YOU ALL TO PRESENT YOUR
BUDGET PRO POLEACE AHEAD OF THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE. IT INCREASES
TRANSPARENCY AND FOR
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IT GOES
BACK TWO. GLAD TO HAVE JUAREZ AS
SHE REMINDED ME THIS IS HER
NINTH BUDGET. WE WILL BE
CHANGING HOW WE ARE DOING PUBLIC
HEARINGS. I CAN NOT START THIS
MEETING WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE
IMMENSE WORK THAT CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS LED US
THROUGH, FELT LIKE A MINIBUDGET.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE
STARTING IN JANUARY. SO, I THINK
WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THERE.
BUT WE JUST GOT THROUGH A LOT OF
WORK. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH BY
LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND SHOWING
US DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN DO
BUSINESS HERE. AND, SO,
SPECIFICALLY IN YOUR, IN THE
PUBLIC HEARINGS WE ARE GOING TO
BE STARTING THEM EARLIER,
SEPARATING THE VIRTUAL AND THE
IN-PERSON. AND, WE ARE STILL
WORKING OUT SOME OF THE OTHER
DETAILS BUT WE WILL BE SENDING
OUT DIRECTIVES ABOUT HOW THE
PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL CHANGE. WE
WILL BE USING ROBERT RULES AS WE
ALWAYS DO. I WENT AHEAD AND USED
A PARLIAMENT. ONE OF THE BEST
PARLIAMENT ORGANIZATIONS
ASSOCIATION IN WASHINGTON CITY.
REGULARLY HIGHER THEM TO HELP US
LEARN ROBERT'S RULES AND
PROCEDURE. I BOUGHT EVERY ONE
ONE OF THESE LITTLE, LAMINATED
CHEAT SHEETS. IF YOU HAVE -- IT
HELPS US NAVIGATE THROUGH WHERE
WE ARE GOING. WHICH AMENDMENT
HAS TO BE WITHDRAWN TO MOVE
FORWARD AND ET CETERA. I HAVE TO
SAY OUR DEPUTY CITY CLERK IS ONE
OF THE BEST PARLIAMENTIANS I
WOULD SAY IN THE STATE. USE HER
AS A RESOURCE. BUT, IF ANY OF
THIS NEEDS TO, CLARIFICATION OR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHE IS
HERE. HOW TO RUN IT DOWN AS
CLAIRE. I AM A SERVANT. I AM NOT
THE BOSS I AM JUST THE ONE
FACILITATING. I RECOGNIZE AND
REQUEST AND REQUIRE YOU TO SPEAK
SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE PROCESS
AND ALLOWS FOR EVERYONE TO BE
ABLE TO SPEAK. I WILL LET YOU
CALL ON THE NEXT PERSON, I WILL
CHECK ON CALLING BEFORE AGAIN IF
OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE NOT
SPOKEN. I WILL NEVER DOES OR
TELL YOU TO STOP R STOP SPEAKING
I WILL NOTE WHERE WE ARE IN THE
-- ALONG THE WAY FOR ALL OF OUR
PRESENTATIONS, IF WE ONLY HAVE
AN HOUR LEFT AND 16 SLIDES AGO I
ASK COLLEAGUES TO HOLD THEIR
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END AS AN
EXAMPLE W. THAT OVER THE NEXT
TWO MONTHS WE WILL HAVE 19
MEETINGS. SIX PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS AND TWO MARATHON PUBLIC
HEARINGS ON TOP OF THAT, I KNOW
EACH OF US ARE HAVING DOZENS TO
HUNDREDS OF MEETINGS WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WE HAVE
ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS TO DO ALL OF
THIS WORK. SO, WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, I WILL ASK IF ANYONE
NEEDS TO TAKE A SHORT RECESS AT
10:00 A.M. CHECKING. I AM SEEING
NO RECESS DESIRE AT 10:00 A.M.
WITH THAT I WILL JUST SAY FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2001
MARINERS ARE GOING BACK TO THE
-- WE HAVE GOTTEN THE AL WEST
CHAMPIONSHIP. AMERICAN LEAGUE.
VERY EXCITED FOR THAT. EXCITED
TO WEAR MY DAN WILSON SIGNED
BASEBALL CAP EARLIER TODAY. WITH
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS NOW
WITH US IN PERSON. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN IN
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
OUR PRESENTERS.
>>> AGENDA ITEM 1. INTRODUCTION
AND BUDGET PROCESS OVERVIEW
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> WE ARE JOINED BY BEN NOBL
LERKS AND DIRECTOR CALVIN CHOW.
>> TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE PREVIEW
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ROUND AND
THE NEXT. SO, OBVIOUSLY THIS
FIRST ROUND IS THE EXECUTIVE
COMING TO PRESENT. TODAY IT WILL
LARGELY BUDGET OFFICE RUNNING
THE SLOW, IF YOU WILL, THIS
MORNING, GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE
BUDGET. THIS AFTERNOON WE
SCHEDULED A COUPLE TOPICAL AND
CROSS-CUTTING BRIEFINGS, ONE
SPECIFICALLY ON THE PROPOSAL
RELATED TO A . WORN% SALES TAX
DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THE
LEGISLATION WILL BE -- 1% SALES
TAX DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE LEGISLATION WILL BE -- LET
ME CORRECT MYSELF, IT IS
FORMALLY BEFORE THERE COMMITTEE
TODAY, THIS ADDITIONAL MEETING
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN, SHIFTING, TOMORROW,
AND THEN AGAIN ON MONDAY AND
TUESDAY WE WILL HAVE INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENTS COMING. WE DON'T
HAVE TIME TO BRING ALL OF THE
CITY DEPARTMENTS, WE BROUGHT A
SELECT GROUP. WE TRIED TO GROUP
THEM THEME , SOME ARE IN TOWN
AND OUT OF TOWN AND SOME
AVAILABLE AND NOT AVAILABLE.
THAT SAID, PUBLIC SAFETY HUMAN
SERVICES LINED UP POLICE, FIRE,
CHAIR IN THE MORNING AND HSD IN
THE AFTERNOON THOUGHT THAT COULD
FIT TOGETHER WELL. OTHER THAN
THAT IT DOES JUMP A LITTLE BIT.
SO, AGAIN, THRALL BE THE
DEPARTMENTS MAKING THEIR
PRESENTATIONS AND ASKING
QUESTIONS, WE WILL TRACK THE
QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK TODAY AND
THE NEXT FEW DAY THAT ARE UP
ANSWERED FROM THE TABLE AND FEED
THOSE INTO THE SYSTEM AND GET
ANSWERS BACK. WE ARE KEEPING
TRACK OF ALL OF THAT AND
CAREFULLY SO. THEN, A FEW WEEKS
OFF WE HAVE THE ROUND OF CENTRAL
STAFF COMES BACK WITH THEIR
OVERVIEWS OF DEPARTMENTS AND
IDENTIFYING POLICY CONCERNS.
THOSE PRESENTATIONS WILL LARGELY
BE THE WORK OF CENTRAL STAFF.
BASED ON OUR REVIEW ON WHAT EACH
DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET. PRODUCING
AN OVERVIEW OF EVERY DEPARTMENT.
GIVEN TIME RESTRAINTS ONLY MAKE
THOSE THAT ARE MOST RELEVANT AND
SIGNIFICANT. AGAIN, FOCUS THAT
WILL BE CENTRAL STAFF'S
ANALYSIS BUT THE MEETINGS WILL
GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM
CENTRAL STAFF, ASK QUESTIONS AND
START TO DISCUSS YOUR INTERESTS
AND HIGHLIGHTS FORESHADOWING THE
NEXT ROUND TO BRING FORWARD
AMENDMENTS. THAT IS WHAT IS
AHEAD OF US. LOOKING FORWARD TO
IT. OBVIOUSLY INTENSE PERIOD OF
BOTH WORK AND ATTENTION. IF
THERE ARE NOT QUESTIONS BEYOND
THAT WE CAN MOVE ON BUT I AM
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS AT THIS
TIME.
>> SEEING NONE, KEEP ROLLING, WE
HAVE SEEN THIS A NUMBER OF
TIMES, APPRECIATE IT.
>> EXACTLY. DIRECTOR EDER COMES
UP, CALVIN CLOW IS WITH ME AND
BRIAN AND PATTY, THE WHOLE TEAM
OF FOLKS STEPPING IN TO HELP US
GET THROUGH BUDGET I APPRECIATE
THEIR WORK AND ASSISTANCE AND
YOU WILL SEE THEIR FACES AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2, CITY
BUDGET OFFICE OVERVIEW OF 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> WELL DAN EDER. I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU NOW FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH CHAIR STRAUSS. AND MEMBERS
OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
WITH YOU THIS MORNING. I AM
EXCITED TO PROVIDE A HIGH-LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET. I WANT
TO, WITH YOUR PERMISSION JUST
PAUSE BRIEFLY TO THANK THE MANY
PEOPLE WHO HELPED WITH THE
CHALLENGING TASK OF PULLING
TOGETHER TODAY'S BUDGET. THANKS
FIRST AND FOREMOST TO THE
MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP AND VISION
AND SETTING GOALS AND HELPING US
DELIVER ON THOSE GOALS. I WANT
TO THANK MY CBO TEAM, SMART,
SEASONED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS
WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT DOING THE
RIGHT THING. AND GETTING THINGS
RIGHT, ALWAYS. I WANT TO
GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE
INCREDIBLE WORK OF SO MANY
PEOPLE, THE 13,000 PLUS
EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. FROM VARIOUS OFFICES
AND DEPARTMENTS WHO WORKED WITH
US FOR MONTHS. ROLLING UP THEIR
SLEEVES, THINKING THROUGH
INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND WAYS TO
STREAMLINE SPENDING AND SOME NEW
WAYS TO MEET THE MOMENT WITH
SOME NEW INVESTMENTS. I DON'T
PRETEND TO BE A SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERT. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
ANSWER EVERY QUESTION THAT COMES
UP TODAY. BUT AS DR. NOBLE NOTED
WE WILL TRACK QUESTIONS, I WILL
NOT BE SHY ABOUT LETTING YOU
KNOW WHETHER I NEED TO FOLLOW UP
AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU AND
PROVIDE INFORMATION IN THE NEXT
DAY OR THREE. WITH THAT, I WILL
MOVE FORWARD TO THE FIRST SLIDE.
THANKS, CAL FOR RUNNING THE DECK
FOR ME. THIS PROVIDES AN
OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR TOPICS I
INTEND TO COVER IN TODAY'S
BRIEFING. I WILL PROVIDE
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT FOR HOW
THE CITY BUDGET PROCESS WORKED
THIS YEAR. NEXT, -- [LOST AUDIO
]
-- NOTED A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE
SHORT FALL IN THE GENERAL FUND
AND THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
FUND. I WILL TALK ABOUT THE
TOOLS WE USE TO GET TO A
BALANCED PROPOSAL IN THIS
SECTION. I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH
A HIGH-LEVEL LOOK AT AN OVERVIEW
OF SPENDING IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. AND FINALLY, I WILL
SPEND SOME TIME HIGHLIGHTING KEY
INVESTMENT AREAS IN THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET. IF WE CAN GO TO
SLIDE FOUR PLEASE. I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE READY AND
AWARE OF THIS. FOR THOSE
WATCHING ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL,
I WILL NOTE THAT THE CITY
ALREADY HAS AN ADOPTED BUDGET
FOR 2025. LEGALLY AUTHORIZED
SPEND FOR EXAMPLE THIS YEAR. WE
ALSO HAVE AN ENDORSED 2026
BUDGET WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A
SPENDING PLAN. BUT DOES NOT YET
INCLUDE APPROPRIATIONS. SPENDING
IN EACH OF THOSE YEARS, 2025,
ADOPTED AND '26, ENDORSED WERE
BALANCED AGAINST REVENUE
FORECASTS FROM OCTOBER 2024.
WHICH WAS THE LATEST REVENUE
FORECAST AVAILABLE WHETHER THE
COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CITY'S
BUDGET AND ENDORSED THE 2026
BUDGET. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET BUILDS UPON THE 2026
ENDORSED BUDGET SPENDING PLAN.
AND AS I WILL DISCUSS IN UP
COMING SLIDES, INCORPORATES NEW
REVENUE FORECAST INFORMATION AND
MAKES OTHER CHANGES. THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET FUNDS SPECIFIC
STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS SEATTLE'S
EVOLVING PRIORITIES IN THE FACES
OF CHANGES AT THE NATIONAL,
REGIONAL AND STATE LEVEL. IF WE
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS AT THE
TOP THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET
PROCESS. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE
ARE ACTIVITIES THAT SPAN
EFFECTIVELY NEARLY EVERY MONTH
OF THE YEAR. WE RECEIVED GRAVE
NEWS IN APRIL FROM THE
INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
REVENUE AND FORECAST AND WE
SPENT MONTHS THERE AFTER
GRAPPLING WITH HOW TO ARRIVE AT
A BALANCED BUDGET FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION BEGINNING TODAY.
THAT WORK HAS BEEN TUMULTUOUS
AND DIFFICULT. WE TOOK IDEAS
FROM DEPARTMENTS IN THE SPRING
FROM APRIL THROUGH THE BEGINNING
OF JUNE OVER THE SUMMER. CBO AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
MAYOR HIMSELF EVALUATED TRADE
OFFS AND MADE HARD DECISIONS
ABOUT HOW TO BALANCE THE NEEDS
AGAINST THE AVAILABLE REVENUES.
NOW IT IS THE COUNCIL'S
DECISION-MAKING SEASON. THAT
KICKS OFF THIS WEEK. IT WILL BE
THEN AN ADOPTED BUDGET IN THE
THIRD WEEK OF NOVEMBER. AT A
VERY HIGH-LEVEL THE FORECAST
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED? AUGUST
INDICATES THAT THE CITY'S
ECONOMY IS STILL GROWING.
REVENUE PROJECTIONS THIS YEAR
HAVE PROVED CHALLENGING AND
SOMEWHAT MURKY. FOR 2026, THE
INDEPENDENT ECONOMIC AND REVENUE
FORECAST OFFICE EXPECTS THAT THE
CITY'S GENERAL FUND AND PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX FUND, THE CITY'S
MOST FLEXIBLE REVENUES, WILL
BOTH CONTINUE TO GROW. COMPARED
TO 2025. THE COST OF LABOR,
SERVICES WILL GROW FASTER, AND
MORE CLOSELY MATCH THE BROADER
LEVELS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL
INFLATION. THE ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS ARE INFLUENCED BOTH
BY LOCAL DECISIONS AND FEDERAL
POLICY DECISIONS. AND THERE
COULD BE CHANGES IN FUTURE
REVENUE FORECASTS. THE NEXT
REVENUE FORECAST THAT WILL, THE
CITY WILL RECEIVE IS IN OCTOBER
DURING APPROXIMATELY THE MIDDLE
OF YOUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
WILL THERE BE GOOD NEWS OR BAD
NEWS? I DO NOT KNOW. IF THERE IS
GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS WE WILL BE
READY TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUDGET
REMAINS BALANCED BY THE TIME IT
IS ADOPTED. WITH THAT, I WILL
MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS SLIDE IS TALKING ABOUT
RACIAL EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS IN
THE BUDGET PROCESS. RACIAL
EQUITY IMPACTS ARE CONSIDERED AS
PART OF THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS
AS IN PAST YEARS, EVERY BUDGET
IDEA WHETHER PROPOSED INCLUDES A
RACE AND EQUITY IMPACT ANALYSIS
BEFORE WE DECIDED TO ACCEPT OR
REJECT IT. EACH INDIVIDUAL
PROPOSAL OR CHANGE REQUEST AS WE
CALL THEM, INCLUDING AN
EVALUATION EVER WHETHER AND HOW
THE CHANGE COULD EFFECT THE
CITY'S RSJI, RACIAL AND JUSTICE
INITIATIVE GOALS. CBOs CHANGE
TEAM HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH
DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE THE USE
OF DATA TO MEASURE EQUITY
IMPACTS. CBO CREATED THE
EVIDENCE TOOL KIT THAT IS A SET
OF RESOURCES TO ASSIST
DEPARTMENTS TO REFLECT ON HOW
PROGRAMS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND
HELP ARTICULATE THE EVIDENCE
BEHIND PROPOSALS. THESE
RESOURCES ARE AIMED AT
SUPPORTING DEPARTMENTS TO USE
MORE AND BETTER EVIDENCE IN
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND BUDGET
PROPOSALS, EVERY DEPARTMENT IS
IN A DIFFERENT STARTING PLACE.
CBO IS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE
ADVANCEMENT IN THE OUTCOMES.
WITH THAT I AM GOING TO TURN TO
THE BALANCING THE BUDGET SECTION
AS YOU KNOW AND AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, THE MAYOR PROPOSED AND
THEN THE COUNCIL ENDORSED A
BALANCED BUDGET PLAN FOR 2026.
IN APRIL OF -- SORRY. IT HAS A
TYPO IN IT, IN APRIL OF 2025,
THE FORECAST COUNCIL ADOPTED A
PESSIMISTIC FORECAST DUE TO
SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY IN THE
NATIONAL ECONOMY. THAT FORECAST
AT THE BOTTOM LINE IDENTIFIED A
$217 MILLION GAP? THE OTHERWISE
ANTICIPATED REVENUES FOR THE
GENERAL FUND AND THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX COMBINED. THAT
EFFECTIVELY MEANT THAT THE, WHEN
THE MAYOR WENT TO THE DRAWING
BOARD TO LOOK AT WHAT BUDGET TO
PROPOSE HE DID NOT HAVE $217
MILLION OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT
REVENUES TO SUPPORT THE SPENDING
THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2026
ENDORSED BUDGET. SO, WE HAD TO
MAKE SOME PIVOTS AND YOU WILL
SEE THE OTHER NUMBER ON THE
SLIDE IT IS $240 MILLION. THAT
IS ALL FUNDS. THAT IS GENERAL
FUND AND THE PET, PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX FUND AND ALSO OTHER
KINDS OF FUNDS. DIFFERENT COLORS
OF MONEY. SOME WITH VERY
RESTRICTIVE USES FOR
TRANSPORTATION AND ET CETERA. WE
CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. EARLY IN 2024 THE CITY
WAS FACING A $250 MILLION
GENERAL FUND DEFICIT. THE MAYOR
TOOK STEPS TO SLOW SPENDING THAT
HELPED WITH THE ISSUE THAT AROSE
LATER IN 2025 AS WELL. SOME
EXAMPLES OF STEPS THAT THE MAYOR
TOOK IN 2024 INCLUDED HIRING
FREEZE, TRAVEL AND TRAINING
RESTRICTIONS, SCRUTINY OF NEW
CONTRACTS AND ALL TECHNOLOGY
PURCHASES. THOSE, UPON LEARNING
OF THE $217 MILLION GENERAL
GOVERNMENT REVENUE REDUCTION IN
THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR WE
EXTENDED THOSE STRATEGIES AND
EXPECT TO ACHIEVE SAVINGS IN
2025. BOTH OF THOSE SAVINGS IN
'24 AND '25 BECOME RESOURCES
FOR THE CITY TO USE IN 2026. WE
ASKED DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY
WAYS TO REDUCE SPENDING FROM THE
ENDORSING 2026 LEVELS, AGAIN,
BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH
REVENUES TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE
SPENDING IN THE ENDORSED BUDGET.
WE ASKED FOR BETWEEN 2% AND 8%
REDUCTIONS. I AM PLEASED WE DID
NOT ULTIMATELY END UP NEEDING TO
TAKE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC-FACING
REDUCTIONS. BUT WE DID GENERATE
IDEAS FOR HOW TO DO THAT. AND
THOSE IDEAS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN
THE CASE OF BAD NEWS ON AN UP
COMING REVENUE FORECAST IN THE
EVENT THAT WE, AGAIN, FIND
OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE
CAN NOT SUPPORT ALL OF THIS
SPENDING. OUR GOAL WAS TO
IDENTIFY REDUCTIONS WITH MINIMAL
IMPACTS TO PUBLIC-FACING
SERVICES. LOOKED FOR PROJECTS
NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE
ORIGINAL TIME LINES EVERYONE IF
THEY HAD FULL FUNDING.
CONSIDERED AND IMPLEMENTED
OPTIONS TO FOLD TOGETHER WORK
INTO DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE BEST
SUITED TO DO THE WORK, ACHIEVING
EFFICIENCIES. THE NEXT SLIDE,
SLIDE NUMBER 11 IS SAN OVERVIEW
OF ALL OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE
EMPLOYED TO ARRIVE AT A BALANCED
2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. THOSE
STRATEGIES FALL INTO THREE MAIN
CATEGORIES, SPENDING REDUCTIONS,
NEW REVENUES, AND REVISED
FORECAST. I WILL GO THROUGH THEM
ONE AT A TIME. SPENDING
REDUCTIONS AS I MENTIONED ON THE
PREVIOUS SLIDE ENCOMPASSED 2024
MEASURES THAT WE TOOK TO REDUCE
SPENDING IN '24. WE ALSO, AND
THOSE WERE BORN OUT WHETHER WE
CLOSED THE BOOKS ON 2024. THE
BEGINNING OF 2025. WE FOUND
THERE WAS $65 MILLION OF GENERAL
FUND SAVINGS, RESOURCES THAT
BECAME AVAILABLE FOR USE IN 2025
AND 2026. IN 2025 WE WENT
THROUGH AN EXERCISE WITH
DEPARTMENTS TO LET US KNOW WHEN
THEY COULD NOT SPEND MONEY OR
THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES WITHOUT
PUBLIC-FACING SERVICE REDUCTIONS
TO DECREASE THEIR SPENDING THAT
THEY OTHERWISE WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH. WE ARE
COUNTING ON AN ADDITIONAL $30
MILLION OF UNDER SPEND THIS YEAR
IN 2025. LASTLY I MENTIONED WE
ASKED FOR DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE US
IDEAS FOR REDUCING THEIR
SPENDING FROM THE LEVELS IN THE
ENDORSED BUDGET THAT ACHIEVED AN
ADDITIONAL $37 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUND AND PET. THE SECOND
CATEGORY IS NEW REVENUES. THERE
HAVE BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS
IN THE PUBLIC AND ALSO ON THIS
FLOOR, THIS COUNCIL TOOK ACTION
ON THE SEATTLE SHIELD
INITIATIVE. IT IS A SERIES OF
CHANGES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY
GENERATE, IF APPROVED BY VOTERS
ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, A NET
$81 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAX
REVENUE THAT IS A GENERAL FUND
REVENUE. THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT
FOLKS WILL VOTE ON IN NOVEMBER
PROVIDES $51 MILLION WILL BE FOR
GENERAL FUND BACKFILL. THAT IS
TO SAY IT HELPS ADDRESS THE $217
MILLION DEFICIT DIRECTLY. THE
REMAINING $30 MILLION, I WILL
TALK ABOUT IN A LATER SLIDE. IT
GENERALLY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS AND TO HELP ADDRESS THE
MUNICIPAL LEVEL IMPACTS OF
FEDERAL BUDGET AND POLICY
CHANGES. THE NEXT ITEM, THE
SECOND ITEM IN THE NEW REVENUES
CATEGORY IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SALES TAX PROPOSAL. .1% INCREASE
ON THE EXISTING SALES TAX. IT
WILL GENERATE $39 MILLION. AND
IT CAN BE USED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
NEEDS. AS PROVIDED FOR IN
LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO, THAT
ALLOWED MUNICIPALITIES TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS, IMPOSING THIS
TAX. IT DOES NOT NEED TO GO TO
VOTERS. IT IS A PROPOSAL THAT IS
IN THE CITY'S CONTROL AND THE
MAYOR TRANSITIONED THAT. THE
BUDGET ASSUMES PASSAGE OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX. SO, IT
IS PART OF THE BALANCING
PICTURE, IF YOU WILL, AND THEN
FINALLY, WE GOT GOOD NEWS, I
MENTIONED THERE WAS BAD NEWS IN
APRIL. FORECAST COUNCIL LET US
KNOW WE WERE $217 MILLION UNDER
WATER IF YOU WILL. WITH RESPECT
TO THE LEVELS OF GENERAL FUND
AND PET REVENUE IN '25 AND '26.
THAT WENT UPWARDS BY $95 MILLION
IN AUGUST WHEN THEY UPDATED
THEIR FORECAST. SO, I MENTIONED
THERE WAS A YEAR OF CHANGES,
THAT IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
THE PET AND THE GENERAL FUND
FORECASTED SHIFTED CONSIDERABLY
FROM OCTOBER TO APRIL AND THEN
FROM APRIL TO AUGUST. WE REMAIN
JUST ON THE REVENUE SIDE $122
MILLION UNDER WATER. THAT IS
$217 DOWN, $95 UP IT IS STILL
$122 UNDER THE REVENUE LEVELS
FROM THE ENDORSED BUDGET. IF
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS I WILL
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SECTION.
THIS IS A VERY HIGH-LEVEL OVER
YOU HAD VIEW OF THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET. THE FOLLOWING
SECTION I WILL DIVE INTO THE
NEXT LEVEL OF DETAIL. THERE ARE,
IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
NEW HISTORIC HIGH-LEVELS OF
INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND EDI PROJECTS. WE FULLY
FUNDED THE REVENUE STABILIZATION
FUND, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE
RAINY DAY FUND. WE FULLY FUNDED
THE EMERGENCY FUND AT THE LEVELS
FOR BOTH THAT ARE CALLED FOR IN
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. THAT
MEANS WE MADE ADDITIONS TO BOTH
OF THE THE FUNDS. WE BEGAN TO
RESTORE THE PAYROLL TAX RESERVE.
WE FUNDED $9 MILLION TOWARDS AN
EVENTUAL GOAL OF ABOUT $43
MILLION. THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED
IN THE LEGISLATION, THE LAST
BUDGET, THAT RESERVE, WHICH IS
INTENDED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
VOLATILITY IN THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX FUND REVENUES, THAT,
THAT THE EXECUTIVE FUND FULLY
FUND THAT TO A 10% LEVEL. IT
WILL BE ABOUT $43 MILLION BY THE
END OF THE FOURTH YEAR. SO, WE
MADE A ONE QUARTER, ONE YEAR,
ONE QUARTER PAYMENT. THEY WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY THREE MORE YEARS
ON A PLANNED BASIS OF FUNDING
FOR THAT RESERVE. SUPPORT FOR
THE GENERAL FUND THAT THE
PAYROLL TAX FUND DOES. WE
ALIGNED BUDGET WITH ACTUAL
NEEDS. IMPORTANTLY, THERE ARE NO
NEW LAYOFFS IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. THERE ARE VACANT
POSITIONS THAT WE WERE
ELIMINATED AND SOME SUNSETTING
POSITIONS THAT WERE NOT
EXTENDED. ABOUT 19 IN ALL IN THE
TWO CATEGORIES. NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. THIS SHOWS FOR ALL FUNDS
ACROSS ALL AREAS THAT THE
CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGE SET 8.9
BILLION $BUDGET IS $8.9 BILLION.
ABOUT HALF OF IT IS FOR
UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND
ENVIRONMENT. I AM CALLING THAT
OUT BECAUSE MANY OF THE
RESOURCES IN THAT AREA ARE
RESTRICTED BY STATE LAW. AND CAN
NOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING BUT
UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION,
THINK ABOUT UTILITY BILL, THE
CITY CAN NOT USE YOUR CITY LIGHT
BILL PAYMENT TO SUPPORT GENERAL
GOVERNMENT PURPOSES LIKE PARKS
AND LIBRARIES ET CETERA. UNLESS
THERE ARE QUESTIONS I AM GOING
TO GO FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS, AGAIN, HIGHEST LEVEL LOOK
AT THE GENERAL FUND. IT IS ABOUT
$2.0 BILLION. FULLY HALF, $982
MILLION. THAT IS FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HERE WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT POLICE, FIRE, CARE, AND
SOME OF THE SMALLER DEPARTMENTS
OF THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
OFFICES. I BELIEVE THAT LAW AND
LAW AND MUNICIPAL COURT AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARE ALSO IN
THIS BIGGEST SECTION OF THE PIE.
WITH THAT I WILL PROCEED TO
SLIDE 16, PLEASE.
>> THERE IS A TAKING A LOOK AT
HOW THE GENERAL FUND IN
PARTICULAR HAS EVOLVED OVER
TIME. AND, I, I WILL POINT OUT
THAT THE GREEN LINE IS SHOWING
HOW EXPENSES HAVE CHANGED OVER
THE YEARS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH
NOT ONLY THE 2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE, BALANCED
AGAINST THE AVAILABLE REVENUES
THAT ARE SHOWN IN THE BARS
UNDERNEATH THE GREEN LINE. WHAT
THE PROJECTION LOOKS LIKE FOR
THE ANTICIPATED EXPENSES VERSUS
THE FORECAST REVENUES. AND THERE
I AM HIGHLIGHTING WE HAVE AN
EXPECTED $140 MILLION GAP
BETWEEN THE RISING EXPENSES AND
THE ALSO RISING BUT NOT FAST
ENOUGH TO MEET THE EXPENSES,
REVENUES. SO, WE DON'T KNOW YET
IF WE ARE GOING TO EVENTUALLY
HAVE $140 MILLION OF DEFICIT BY
THE TIME 2027 COMES. I DON'T
WANT TO BE -- I DON'T WANT TO
REPEAT MYSELF TOO MUCH. $217
MILLION BAD NEWS IN APRIL, $95
MILLION OF GOOD NEWS IN AUGUST,
THE REVENUE FORECAST CHANGES. IT
CHANGES NOT ONLY ANNUALLY IT
CHANGES MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR
AND WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR
DEPENDING HOW YOU COUNT IT MORE
FORECASTS BEFORE WE GET TO THE
2027 PROPOSED BUDGET. I WILL
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. HERE
I AM HIGHLIGHTING FOR YOU OR I
AM GIVING YOU THE CATEGORIES OF
HIGHLIGHTS THAT I WILL WALK
THROUGH OF THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
PRIORITIES. LIKE IN EACH OF THE
YEAR'S THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED A
BUDGET. THREE OF THE FOUR
CATEGORIES ARE THE SAME.
AFFORDABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY,
REDUCING HOMELESSNESS. THIS YEAR
WE ARE ALSO INCLUDING A FEDERAL
RESPONSE CATEGORY. IT IS A
HIGH-LEVEL LOOK AT HOW A PORTION
OF THE BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION
TAX PROCEEDS WILL BE SPENT. WE
HAVE A WHOLE SESSION ON THIS ONE
THIS AFTERNOON. I WILL JUST BE
PROVIDING SOME OVERVIEW. WE WILL
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE,
CAL.. OKAY. THE FIRST OF THE
FOUR AREAS IS AFFORDABILITY.
HERE FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THE RECORD LEVEL OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS.
WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET INCLUDES JUST ABOUT $350
MILLION FOR 2026 SPENDING ON A
VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AREAS. THERE IS $325 MILLION FOR
MULTI-FAMILY CAPITAL
DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP, OPERATIONS,
MAINTENANCE, RESIDENT SERVICES,
PROVIDER AGENCY SUPPORTS AND
STAFFING AND ADMINISTRATION IN
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. THERE IS
AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION IN THE
2026 BUDGET FOR THE NORTH GATE
COMPLNS HOUSING PROJECT. THAT IS
A , THE LAST NEEDED $20 MILLION
OF TOTAL SUPPORT FOR THAT
PROJECT $5 MILLION OF COME IS
NEEDED IN 2026. THE BALANCE IS
NEEDED IN FUTURE YEARS. AND
LASTLY, I WANT TO CALL OUT A $20
MILLION FOUR-YEAR PLANNED
INVESTMENT OF A TOTAL OF $80
MILLION ACROSS THOSE FOUR YEARS
IN ANTIDISPLACEMENT FUND. THERE
WILL BE MORE TO COME ON THAT IN
UP COMING DAYS. YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO ASK ME AND THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT. NEXT IS A LOOK,
STAYING ON THE TOPIC OF HOUSING
INVESTMENTS, I WANTED TO GIVE
YOU A PERSPECTIVE WHETHER I SAY
IT IS A HISTORIC HIGH-LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. ALL OF THE WAY TO THE
RIGHT IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
2026. YOU SEE IT AS LABELED AS
$349.5 MILLION. I ROUNDED IT UP
ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE TO $350.
THAT IS, THAT IS, LET'S SEE,
SEVEN TIMES, ROUGHLY, THE SIZE
OF OUR INVEST.MENT IN 2015 AS A
CITY. IT WAS IN THE LOW $50
MILLION RANGE FOR 2015 AND 2016.
WE HAVE STEPPED UP OUR
INVESTMENT DRAMATICALLY IN THE
ENSUING 10 YEARS AND WE ARE,
AGAIN, UP TO $350 MILLION OF
INVESTMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, CONTINUING ON WITH
AFFORDABILITY THEME. THE OFFICE
OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT HAS A RECORD LEVEL
OF INVESTMENT IN THE EQUITY
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING
AT 29, AT ALMOST HALF A MILLION
IN THE 2026 BUDGET. IN THE NEXT
CATEGORY, CHILDCARE INVESTMENTS,
IF VOTERS IN NOVEMBER APPROVE
THE FAMILIES EDUCATION PRESCHOOL
AND PROMISE LEVY, SOMETIMES
KNOWN AS THE FEP LEVY. IN THE
'26-'27 SCHOOL YEAR THERE ARE
$18.5 MILLION OF NEW
INVESTMENTS. IT WOULD MORE THAN
DOUBLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
CHILDCARE SLOTS AND PROVIDE
RETENTION PAYMENTS TO MORE THAN
5,000 CHILDCARE WORKERS. THE
NEXT CATEGORY IS A NEW BACK TO
BUSINESS FUND. THIS IS AN
EXPANSION OF THE STORE FRONT
REPAIR FUND. IT HAS BEEN FUNDED
AT $800,000. THIS WOULD ADD $2.5
MILLION IN 2026, AN ADDITIONAL
$2.5 MILLION IN 2027 FOR A TOTAL
OF $3.3 MILLION. IN EACH OF
THOSE YEARS. SLIDE 21 IS THE
LAST SLIDE IN THE AFFORDABILITY
CATEGORY. WE ARE PROUD TO
INCLUDE $11.7 MILLION IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR A
4.6% INCREASE TO CONTRACTORS
DOING WORK FOR THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THIS IS
SUFFICIENT TO NOT ONLY MEET THE
CITY LAW WHICH REQUIRES THAT
SUCH CONTRACTS GET A 2.6%
INCREASE TO ADDRESS INFLATION
AND MAKE WAGE ADJUSTMENTS FOR
WORKERS IN THE CONTRACTS BUT AN
ADDITIONAL 2% MARKET RATE
ADJUSTMENT. THE LAST TIME THERE
WAS A MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT WAS
IN 2023, IT WAS ALSO A 2%IP
CREASE. ONE OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS NOTED IT IS A 4% ON
TOP OF INFLATIONARY INCREASES
REQUIRED BY CITY LAW. AND LASTLY
ON THIS SLIDE WE ARE MAKING
INVESTMENTS IN THE MAYOR
PROPOSED BUDGET TO ADDRESS FOOD
DESERTS. THERE IS A LOT MORE
CATEGORIES AND DOLLARS THAT I
WILL TALK ABOUT IN A FEDERAL
RESPONSE SLIDE. I WANT TO CALL
OUTER HERE $140,000 FOR
EXPANSION OF THE NUMBER OF WEEKS
THAT THE FARMER'S MARKET IN
LAKE CITY WILL BE IN OPERATION,
THERE IS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF
TIME THAT THE FARMER'S MARKET
CAN SERVE TEAM BY 15 WEEKS A
YEAR AND FINALLY $700,000 FOR A
PILOT INVESTMENT THAT WOULD
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, CORNER
STORES AND BODEGAS. IT IS IN AN
AREA OF FOOD DESERT BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO MARKETS
WITH FRESH FRUIT IN AREAS THAT
ARE THREATENING TO BECOME FOOD
DESERTS BECAUSE GROCERY STORES
HAD SOME HAVE BEEN CLOSING. THE
NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE NUMBER 22. IT
IS DESCRIBING INVESTMENTS IN
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND, HERE, I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROCEEDS OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX AND THAT
I MENTIONED. THERE WILL BE $39
MILLION FLOWING FROM THIS? WE
HAVE IT SPENDING IT IN THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET. THE BIGGEST IS
THE CARE OPERATIONS AND
EXPANSION. THE COMMUNITY
ASSISTED RESPONSE OF ENGAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT. HERE WE HAVE $7
MILLION TO DOUBLE THE CRISIS
CARE RESPONDER TEAM AND EXTEND
THE HOURS OF OPERATION TO 20
HOURS A DAY. IT WOULD ADD $2.5
MILLION TO EXPAND 911 CALL
RESPONSE STAFFING. THIS WOULD
ADD 12911 CALL TAKERS AND ALSO
SOME ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO
SUPPORT THAT WORK AND SOME
MANAGERS. AND THEN FINALLY IN
THIS CATEGORY, $15 MILLION OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX TO
STABILIZE FUNDING FOR THE CARE
TEAM. AND THAT IS ALLOWED UNDER
THE STATE LAW THAT ENABLED US TO
PROPOSE AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT
ENACT THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES
TAX. IT CAN AND IN THIS CASE IS
BEING USED TO HELP SUPPORT BASE
OPERATIONS. THE NEXT CATEGORY IS
$6 MILLION FOR NEW TREATMENT
INVESTMENTS. THERE IS A RANGE OF
DIFFERENT KIND OF INVESTMENTS
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED $1.8
MILLION FOR THE THUNDERBIRD
TREATMENT CENTER THAT WE WOULD
BE CONTRIBUTING TO. NOT THE SOLE
FUNDER OF. AND TREATMENT
INVESTMENT $5 MILLION FOR
MAINTAINING, LET EVERYONE LEAD
WITH ADVANCE WITH DIGNITY OR
LEAD CONTRACT. NOT HAVING ENOUGH
FUNDING FROM SEATTLE BECAUSE
STATE FUNDING THEY WERE
RECEIVING TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS
IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. SO, THIS
WOULD BACKFILL THAT STATE
FUNDING SO THAT LEAD CAN
CONTINUE THE WORK THEY ARE DOING
IN THE SEATTLE AREA. THE LAST
TWO CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC SAFETY
SALES TAX INVESTMENTS ARE IN THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE $2.1
MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL
FIREFIGHTER RECRUITS. BRINGS US
FROM 80 RECRUITS PLANNED AND
FUNDED OTHERWISE TO TOTAL OF 100
FIREFIGHTER RECRUITS IN 2026.
AND, THE SECOND OF THE TWO IS
$1.5 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL
HEALTH POST TREATMENT SERVICES.
THE NEXT SLIDE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
IS INVESTMENT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL IN ITS EFFORTS TO
EXPAND THE NUMBER OF POLICE
OFFICERS. WE HAD ANTICIPATED IN
THE '25 ADOPTED BUDGET AND
AGAIN IN THE '26 ENDORSED
BUDGET HAVING 15 NET NEW POLICE
OFFICERS COME ON BOARD. WHETHER
I SAY NET NEW I MEAN AFTER
ACCOUNTING FOR THE NUMBER OF
HIRES AND THE NUMBER OF
SEPARATIONS. WE EXPECTED THERE
TO BE 15 NEW OFFICERS FOR YEAR.
WE WERE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL IN
HIRING THAN ORIGINALLY
ANTICIPATED. MUCH MORE
SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING STAFF SO
THERE WERE FEWER SEPARATIONS
THAN WE EXPECTED. BOTH OF THOSE
INSTEAD OF HAVING 15 IN 2025, 15
NET NEW OFFICES NOW EXPECTING TO
HAVE 91 NET NEW OFFICERS
OFFICERS. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
GOOD NEWS, GOOD FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY, GOOD FOR OUR ABILITY TO
DEPLOY THE OFFICERS THE WAY WE
REALLY WANT TO. THE ONLY THING
IT IS BAD FOR IS THE BOTTOM LINE
BECAUSE IT COST MORSE THAN THE
'25 ADOPTED BUDGET ANTICIPATED.
IT WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $13
MILLION FOR THOSE 76 NET NEW
OFFICERS THAT WERE NOT
ANTICIPATED IN THE ADOPTED
BUDGET. SIMILARLY IN 2026, THERE
ARE 71 NET NEW OFFICERS NOW
EXPECTED TO BE ON BOARD. THAT
WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $26
MILLION IN 2026. YOU MIGHT
WONDER WHY $26 MILLION IS MORE
THAN $13 MILLION AND THAT IS
BECAUSE THERE ARE THE OFFICERS
HIRED FOR A PORTION EVER THE
YEAR IN '25 ARE ONBOARD FOR A
FULL YEAR IN '26 AND HIRING
MORE OFFICES IN '26. SO IT
COMPOUNDS, IF YOU WILL. IF THERE
ARE NO QUESTIONS I WILL MOVE
AHEAD. THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE ON
PUBLIC SAFETY CATEGORY. WE HAVE
SOME INVESTMENTS IN REMOVABLE
VEHICLE BARRIERS. THERE WAS
SOME, I READ, IN SOME PRESS
COVERAGE THAT WE WERE, WE WERE
REMOVING VEHICLE BARRIERS, THAT
IS NOT THE CASE. WE ARE
INSTALLING REMOVABLE VEHICLE
BARRIERS TO HELP WITH PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY IN THE PIKE PLACE AREA
AND IN THE SEATTLE CENTER, A
LITTLE OVER $1.5 MILLION. THE
NEXT ITEM IS SUPPORTING
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GROCERY
STORES, THE MAYOR INCLUDED $1
MILLION FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE
LAST CATEGORY ARE A RANGE OF
NEIGHBORHOOD PACE PLACED
INVESTMENTS, TALKING $4 MILLION
FOR S-DOT, TO CONTINUE STREET
CLEANING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING
LITTER ABATEMENT, PRESSURE
WASHING AND ALLEYWAY CLEANING IN
THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AND EXTENDING
ELSEWHERE WHERE POSSIBLE. THAT
IS CONTINUING WORK THEY WERE
ALREADY DOING IN 2025. BUT
WITHOUT EXPLICIT BUDGET
AUTHORITY. THEY WERE EFFECTIVELY
REDUCING THEIR INVESTMENTS
ELSEWHERE TO SUPPORT THIS WORK.
WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE GOOD
OUTCOMES THAT FLOW FRIDAY THIS
WORK. AND, AFFIRMATIVELY ADDING
BUDGET TO SUPPORT THAT WORK.
NEXT ITEM, SUBCATEGORY HERE $4
MILLION TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND PROMOTE GROWTH AND ENCOURAGE
NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL OUTSIDE OF
DOWNTOWN. WE ARE SPECIFICALLY
CALLING OUT NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH
AS LAKE CITY AND LITTLE SAIGON,
WE WOULD LOVE TO DO IT IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS, RESOURCES
PERMITTING, IF THERE IS GOOD
NEWS IN THE OCTOBER FORECAST I
WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER
ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THIS AREA TO
EXPAND YET TO MORE
NEIGHBORHOODS. NEXT IS, ONE
SEATTLE GRAFFITI PLAN. WE ARE
ADDING $1.5 MILLION TO EXPAND
AND SOLIDIFY THE WORK THAT HAS
BEEN HAPPENING IN THIS AREA. AND
ADDING STAFF TO SUPPORT THAT
WORK. AND, SPEAKING OF ADDING
STAFF, WE ARE ADDING THREE FT Es
IN THE PARK RANGER PROGRAM TO
EXPAND THE WORK THE PARK RANGERS
ARE DOING. THE NEXT SLIDE, 25,
ADDRESSES THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS.
I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE THAT
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS
RECORD INVESTMENT IN REDUCING
HOMELESSNESS. THE TOTAL SPENDING
PROPOSED IS $225 MILLION. MAJOR
CATEGORIES ARE IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE BIGGEST
ITEM BEING THE CONTRACT THAT WE
HAVE SUPPORTING THE KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY. AND
THEN, RANGE OF OTHER PROGRAMS IN
HSD AND THEN $56 MILLION OF
SUPPORT FOR REDUCING
HOMELESSNESS OUTSIDE OF HSD. THE
LARGEST ONE BEING THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING FOR ARRANGE OF
INVESTMENTS THAT HELP STABILIZE
RENTERS AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO WOULD BOTTOM HOMELESS
WITHOUT THAT INVESTMENT. THE BIG
MOVE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS
ADDING $7.8 MILLION TO CREATE
AND OPERATE THREE NEW SHELTERS
IN 2026. THOSE WILL BE
NON-CONGREGATE SHELTERS. THEY
INCLUDE THE INVESTMENT TO CREATE
AND SUPPLY ALL OF THE SHELTERS
WITH ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS BUT
ALSO ONGOING WRAPAROUND SERVICES
FOR THE PEOPLE STAYING THERE. WE
WOULD, IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET MAINTAIN OPERATIONS FOR
NEARLY 2900 EXISTING UNITS OF
SHELTER. AND THE LAST SLIDE IN
MY DECK IS HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW
OF THE FEDERAL RESPONSE. THERE
IS A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION OF
FUNDING THAT IS NOT SHOWN ON
THIS SLIDE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS TO STAND UP AND
OPERATIONALLIZE THE CHANGES TO
THE B&O TAX. THE REMAINING $28
MILLION OF THE UP TO $30 MILLION
FOR THIS PURPOSE IS TO ADDRESS
THE NEEDS THAT ARE CAUSED BY
CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. HERE WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT BOTH BUDGET CHANGES AND
POLICY CHANGES. I WILL REMIND
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, THIS
AFTERNOON, THE MAYOR'S OFFERS
AND I WILL RETURN WITH MORE
IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION ON THIS
PROPOSAL. I DID WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT WHILE THE FEDERAL, THE
CATEGORIES OF FEDERAL RESPONSE,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
ATTACKING AND THREATENING
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
INCREASES SUPPORT BY IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS BY $4
MILLION. IT IS A 70% INCREASE,
70% INCREASE OVER THE 2025
ADOPTED BUDGET. SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENT. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ROLLING BACK SNAP
PAYMENTS AND MAKING CUTS TO FOOD
BANKS, THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET WOULD ADD ABOUT A LITTLE
OVER $10 MILLION TO HELP FEED
POOR FAMILIES JUST FROM THIS
FUND SOURCE. THERE IS ANOTHER $2
MILLION IN OTHER CATEGORIES EVER
FUNDING. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS DECREASING EMERGENCY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL WILL ADD $FOUR MILLION
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE BRINGING
OUR INVESTMENT UP TO $11.5
MILLION FOR ALL SOURCES FOR THIS
PURPOSE IN THE 2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET. AND FINALLY, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTED TO
WITHDRAWAL FUNDING FOR
CONTINUING OF CARE SUPPORT FOR
THOSE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING AND THOSE LIVING IN
SHELTERS. AT LEAST FOR NOW THE
COURTS IN PART WITH SUPPORT FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAVE STOPPED
THE FEDS FROM MOVING FORWARD
WITH THESE REDUCTIONS. THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WILL
ADD $9.5 MILLION TO ENSURE THEY
CAN BACKFILL SOME OF IF IT
BECOMES NECESSARY DURING THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR. THAT IS THE
END OF MY PRESENTATION. I WILL
BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY
QUESTIONS THAT THE CHAIR, THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PLAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR EDAER WE
ABSOLUTELY OVERINDEXED PUBLIC
COMMENT TIME, WE ARE RUNNING
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. WE WILL PUT
OUT THE MARKERS WHERE WE ARE,
THANK YOU FOR THE NAPKINS AS I
SPILLED MY WATER. COLLEAGUES IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE, NOW
IS THE TIME. I WILL GO LAST. I
HAVE A BUNCH? IF YOU DON'T HAVE
QUESTIONS, I DO. I WILL CHECK
THE ZOOM ROOM AND OUT HERE. VICE
CHAIR RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAVE
MANY, MANY QUESTIONS, ACTUALLY.
BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A TIMING
ISSUE. SO I AM GOING TO DO MY
BEST TO AT LEAST ASK THE
QUESTIONS AND THEN IF I NEED TO
GET RESPONSES OFF LINE THAT IS
FINE. ALL RIGHT, SO, FIRST I
JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT A
COUPLE POINTS, ONE IS WE JUST
GOT THIS BUDGET DELIVERED
TUESDAY AFTERNOON. IT IS NOW
THURSDAY MORNING. SO, IT WAS A
DAY AND A HALF AGO. WE HAD NOT
BEEN GIVEN THIS BUDGET AHEAD OF
TIME. SO I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS
IN HERE. SO AS WE DIG INTO THE
700 PAGE BUDGET I AM SURE WE
WILL ALL HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. WE
WILL NEED THE TIME TO DIG INTO
THE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS WITH
THEIR BUDGETS. SO, WANTING TO
STATE THAT FOR THE RECORD. SO
VIEWING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHERE
COUNCIL IS WITH THIS PARTICULAR
BUDGET WHY WE PLAY HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS TODAY THAN WE WILL
HAVE AS THE PROCESS GOES ON AND
SECONDLY I WANT TO SAY GENERALLY
SPEAKING THE CITY MOVED TO A
BIANNUAL SYSTEM TO MAKE THINGS
MORE PREDICTABLE, STREAMLINED, I
KNOW IN THE PAST HOW WE HAVE
TACKLED IT, WE PASSED THIS
BUDGET, BUDGETS THE FIRST YEAR
FOR BOTH YEARS AND THEN ON THE
MIDWAY POINT WE GENERALLY FOR
THE SECOND YEAR OF THE IT ARE
TRUEING UP THE FIRST YEAR. IT IS
NOT REALLY MEANT TO BE A LET'S
START ALL PLANE NEW PROGRAMS AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IT IS
MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY OF
THAT BUDGET. BUT, I SEE
INITIALLY MY RESPONSE TO THIS
BUDGET IS THERE IS A LOT OF NEW
ADS THAT I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE
GIVE WE ARE IN THE SECOND YEAR.
THIS WOULD BE FOR THE SECOND
YEAR. SO, WANTED TO JUST ALSO
STATE THAT FOR THE RECORD FOR
FOLKS THAT MAY BE WATCHING. I
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
DEFICIT. I THINK THAT SEEMS TO
BE A BIT OF A MOVING NUMBER. BUT
I KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE OUR
CENTRAL STAFF GIVE PRESENTATION
LATER THIS AFTERNOON DIRECTOR,
NOBLE O THIS, SO I THINK I WILL
RESERVE MY QUESTIONS RELATED TO
THAT UNTIL WE GET THE FULL
PICTURE.
>> AND I WOULD SAY THIS
AFTERNOON WE WILL GIVE YOU A
LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE .1 SALES TAX AND THE
ANALYSIS OF THE ONGOING DEFICIT
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND
WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THE
CENTRAL STAFF PRESENTATIONS WE
WILL LEAD OFF WITH AN OVERVIEW
AND THAT WILL BE A KEY
COMPONENT. >
>> GREAT, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
NOBLE, I WILL RESERVE QUESTIONS
FOR WHEN WE GET THAT
PRESENTATION AND CAN HAVE A
BETTER PICTURE. I WILL SAY
DIRECTOR EDER, PAGE 10, THE
HIRING FREEZE, IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO KNOW AS PART OF THE
PREJUDICE R BUDGET PROCESS HOW
MANY POSITIONS WERE GIVEN
WAIVERS JUST SO WE KNOW WHAT THE
PICTURE ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE. WE
DON'T KNOW HOW PLANE POSITIONS
THERE WERE AND WAIVERS -- HOW
MANY POSITIONS THERE WERE AND
WAIVERS GIVEN. IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO KNOW. LIKEWISE, WITH
THE NEW CONTRACTS, WHAT DOES IT
MEAN? HOW MANY NEW CONTRACTS DID
YOU NOT MOVE FORWARD ON, WHAT
WERE THEY? WHAT DID WE NOT GET
BECAUSE WE STALLED ON THAT. I
HAVE NO IDEA. THAT IS CRITICAL
INFORMATION FOR US TO KNOW TO
GET THAT BIG PICTURE. SAME WITH
THE UNDERSPENT TO DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGETS. WHAT WAS THAT UNDER
SPENT? TYPICALLY EVERY YEAR,
LIKE YOU INDICATED LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION THERE WAS, I THINK
YOU SAID $30 MILLION OF UNDER
SPEND IN 2025 WE ARE PREDICTING.
IT LOOKS LIKE, I WOULD CALL, MY
WORDS NOT YOUR WORDS, A NATURAL
UNDER SPEND. YOU DID NOT ASK
DEPARTMENTS TO WITHHOLD MONEY
THAT IS JUST MONEY THEY DID NOT
USE THAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT
THE END OF EVERY YEAR FOR ONE
REASON OR ANOTHER. SO THAT IS
QUITE HIGH, UNDER SPENT,
HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE REALLY
GREAT TO KNOW WHAT DEPARTMENTS
DID NOT SPEND THEIR MONEY AND
WHY. IT IS REALLY HELPFUL TO
KNOW IN THE CONTEXT OF BUDGET
SETTING FOR THE FUTURE YEARS.
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE WERE IN
THIS CONSTANT CONVERSATION OF
NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TOW DO
THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO. I WANT
TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN I WANT TO ASK YOU
QUESTIONS, SOMETHING YOU SAID I
AM NOT SURE I HEARD CORRECTLY.
SO, I HEARD YOU SAY, YOU
GENERATED -- DEPARTMENTS
GENERATED IDEAS FOR WHAT WOULD
BE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED IN TERMS
OF CUTS BUT THAT YOU DID NOT
NEED TO MAKE THOSE PROPOSED
DEDUCTIONS DID I HEAR THAT
CORRECTLY?
>> WHAT I WAS TRYING TO
COMMUNICATE IS WE DID NOT HAVE
TO MAKE ALL OF THOSE REDUCTIONS.
WE DID REDUCE '26 ENDORSED
BUDGET SPENDING. NOT BY ALL OF
THE IDEAS ON THE TABLE. WE
PICKED AND CLOSE AND SELECTED
ITEM THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE
MINIMALLY IMPACTFUL TO
PUBLIC-FACING SERVICES.
>> SO YOU REDUCED THE FROM THE
'26 BUDGET BUT THEN INCREASED
BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDITIONAL
THINGS IN THE '26 PROPOSED
BUDGET AND THEN GOING TO
ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE.
>> YES, I THINK THAT IS TRUE. I
DON'T WANT TO LEAVE WITH THE
IMPRESSION IT WAS A TRADE OFF OF
CUTTING IN ORDER TO ADD. THERE
ARE SOME NEW REVENUES PUT INTO
THE NEXT THAT REQUIRED OR
DEMANDED SOME NEW SPENDING. SO,
HERE I AM THINKING ABOUT B&O TAX
THAT HAS FEDERAL RESPONSE THAT
IS $30 MILLION OF NEW RESPONSES
THAT ARE NOT ANTICIPATED IN THE
ENDORSED BUDGET AND WE THINK OUR
WARRANTED AND ARE EXACTLY WHAT
THE COUNCIL WANTED US TO DO IN
PASSING THE B&O TAX WITH THE
SUBSECTION THAT HAD $30 MILLION
FOR THAT PURPOSE. SIMILARLY, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX COULD
HAVE ALL BEEN USED FOR BACKFILL
BUT WE THINK THE NEEDS IN PUBLIC
SAFETY AS I DESCRIBED THE NEED
TO EXPAND THE CARE DEPARTMENT,
AND THE NEED FOR ULTIMATELY
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE NEW NEEDS
THAT WE DID NOT OTHERWISE HAVE
RESOURCES FOR BUT THESE ARE NEW
REVENUES THAT ALLOW US TO
ADDRESS THE CITY'S PUBLIC
SAFETY NEEDS.
>> AND I WILL GET TO THAT IN A
MINUTE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO
WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU CUT. I
UNDERSTAND YOU ARE ADDING THINGS
AND JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED
BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL. I
ACTUALLY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE FEDERAL PIECE BECAUSE I AM
NOT CLEAR HOW MUCH MONEY WE ARE
LOSING FROM THE FEDS THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO BACKFILL FOR. AND I
WANT A BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT. I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT SINCE WE
ARE MAKING THE CASE FOR WHY WE
ARE RAISING ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
IN PART, IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT.
THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT YOU
TOOK SOME REDUCTIONS NOT ALL. I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE
WERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. -- I
AM NOT ANSWERING EACH ONE AS YOU
GO I AM NOTING THE QUESTION AND
WE WILL FOLLOW UP.
>> GREAT, I ASSUME SO. I DON'T
WANT TO TAKE UP THE FULL TIME
HERE BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT IS ON OUR
BLINDS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS
EXERCISE. I DID NOTE ON THE
FISCAL HIGHLIGHTS ON PAGE 13, A
LOT OF THIS WAS NEW. NEW ITEMS
THAT NEEDED NEW REVENUE. SO,
AGAIN, LESS ABOUT WE HAD TO
REDUCE AND NOW BACKFILLING AND
MORE OF THIS WAS NEW ITEMS. I AM
GOING TO DIG INTO THAT PIECE SO
YOU DON'T NEED TO RESPOND TO
THAT NOW. I DO HAVE A QUESTION
ON PAGE 19. I WILL LOOK AT THIS
AND THAT IS, THIS INCREASE IN
OUR HOUSING THAT WE ALL KNOW WE
NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT
HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN
THE LAST 10 YEARS I WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW HOW MANY UNITS IN EACH
OF THOSE YEARS WERE ADDED AND
VACANCY RATES ABOUT THOSE UNITS
OVER TIME. GOING TO MAKE A
GENERAL POINT BY PLY CALCULATION
FROM THIS $8.9 BILLION PROPOSED
BUDGET, $2.5 BILLION IS
PREDICATED ON EITHER THE B&O
PASSING, THE FEP LEVY PASSING
AND A COUNCIL SALES TAX PASSING.
SO, THAT IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE
BUDGET OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS
RELYING ON EITHER VOTER-APPROVED
TAX INCREASES AND THEN THE
SMALLER PORTION BEING THE SALES
TAX INCREASE THAT YOU ARE
REQUESTING COUNCIL TO PASS. SO
THAT IS JUST A STATEMENT. THAT
IS JUST IT IS WHAT IT IS. BUT I
DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW. THAT
IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. ON
PAGE 24, THE PARK RANGERS THREE
NEW PARK RANGERS. I AM NOT SURE
GIVEN ALL OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES ACROSS THE PARKS WITH
THREE AND I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE
OF THE PARK RANGERS, SO THIS IS
NO DISRESPECT TO THE PARK
RANGERS OR PARKS DEPARTMENT,
BUT, THREE ADDITIONAL, WHERE ARE
THOSE GOING TO BE DEPLOYED AND
WHAT REALLY IS THIS GOING TO DO
TO HELP? BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY
MORE PARKS THAN THREE ADDITIONAL
PARK RANGERS CAN MANAGE FOR. SO
I NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THAT. ON PAGE 25. I SEE WE HAVE
OUR INVESTMENT IN THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS
AUTHORITY AT $125 MILLION. I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE
COUNTY IS GIVING IN THAT REGARD.
I KNOW IT IS A JOINT EFFORT. I
WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THE REGIONAL
HOMELESS AUTHORITY. I KNOW WE
HAD SOME CHALLENGES THERE THAT
ARE NOT HAVE NOT BEEN QUITE YET
SOLVED FOR. AND THEN I AM
CURIOUS, THE $7.8 MILLION TO
CREATE NEW SHELTERS IS IT COMING
FROM THE HOUSING LEVY OR COMING
FROM THIS NEW PROPOSED REVENUE,
YOU KNOW, EITHER B&O, SALES, ET
CETERA?
>> THERE IS A GENERAL FUND
SUPPORTED ACTIVITY. IT IS NOT
FROM THE HOUSING LEVY. IS THERE
A REASON WE ARE NOT USING SOME
OF THE HOUSING LEVY TOWARDS
SHELTER? WE CAN TALK OFFLINE
ABOUT THAT. ON THE FEDERAL
RESPONSE LINE, NUMBER 26, I AM
RUNNING THROUGH THIS REALLY
FAST, I AM ALMOST DONE, CHAIR,
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GET ALL
OF MY QUESTIONS OUT. THIS
FEDERAL RESPONSE IN USING $28
MILLION OF THE B&O TAX TO
SUPPORT FEDERAL RESPONSE. I WAS
A LITTLE CONFUSED. THIS $4
MILLION TO SUPPORT OFFICE
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS, I
WOULD BE ABOUT, I THINK I READ
SOMEWHERE 60% INCREASE TO THEIR
BUDGET. I SEE $300K GOING TO
RAPID RESPONSE LEGAL AND KNOW
YOUR RIGHTS, I KNOW THAT IS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FEDERAL
RESPONSE, WHAT I SAW IN THE
BUDGET WAS $1.8 MILLION GOING TO
EXISTING PROGRAMS AND THEN $1.35
TO NEW INITIATIVES. IT WAS
UNCLEAR THAT THIS FULL $4
MILLION WAS GOING TO FEDERAL
RESPONSE AND IT WAS LESS CLEAR
IF THE $300K GOING TO FEDERAL
RESPONSE, WHAT DATA DO WE HAVE
TO SUPPORT THAT, MEANING S THAT
THE NUMBER? IS MORE NEEDED? I
DON'T KNOW. I DON'T HAVE A
GOOD SENSE OF ARE WE MEETING THE
NEED IN THAT SPACE? SO, THAT IS
ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE
ABOUT THAT. I AM GOING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE CLEAR THAT WE
ARE MEETING, ABLE TO MEET THAT
NEED. THEN CHAIR, ONE LAST POINT
AND THANK YOU, I WILL FOLLOW, I
WILL HOPE TO FOLLOW UP ON ALL OF
THOSE QUESTIONS, DIRECTOR EDER.
A NOTE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR
BUDGET PROPOSAL AND THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT DEFICITS I
WILL SAVE THAT FOR THIS
AFTERNOON. I KNOW WE HAVE OUR
CENTRAL STAFF COMING TO PRESENT
ABOUT THE BUDGET. FORECAST. I
WILL SAVE THAT QUESTION FOR
THEN. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. THANK YOU AS WE GET
INTO THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE A FEW POINTS.
LEVERAGING THIS BRIEFING. THANK
YOU, DIRECTOR EDER, WE HAD A
NUMBER OF MEETINGS, USUALLY
PUBLIC LIFE SAFETY FOCUSED. I
APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT. PLUS
WITH ELEMENTS OF THE MAYOR'S
TEAM AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS
WELL. FIRST POINT AND
PIGGYBACKING ON THE VICE CHAIR,
TALKING ABOUT THE BY ANNUAL
PROCESS, YES WE ARE IN '26 BUT
REVIEW TO SET OURSELVES UP WITH
SUCCESS FOR THE '27 AND '28 AS
WELL. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
NEEDS TO UNDERLINE WHAT WE DO
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND IN THE GENERAL SENSE, TOO,
WE NEED TO REVIEW THE ABILITY
WORK THE FUNDING. TO DIGEST THE
FUNDING AND ABILITY TO CARRY OUT
THE MISSION, CONCERN, LIKE
ECON-101. PUT A LOT OF MONEY TO
SOMETHING, BUT IF THE SYSTEM CAN
NOT DIGEST THAT, IT CAN HAVE AN
INFLATIONARY ASPECT. SOME OF THE
POLICY THAT WE HAVE DONE, WHICH
ARE GOOD IN THEMSELVES BUT, IT
CAN BE INFLATIONARY. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY WE
NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THOSE
PIECES. UNDER GOOD GOVERNANCE I
WANTED TO MAKE A FEW POINTS,
ONE, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF
THE KING COUNTY AUDITS RESULTS.
WE CAN NOT HAVE THAT HAPPEN HERE
IN SEATTLE. WE NEED TO BE DOING
OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND I KNOW
EACH OF US FROM OUR COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS AND SO FORTH ARE
LOOKING TO DO THAT. WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOOD TO
GO. AND TO THE POINTS I WAS
TALKING ABOUT, FIRST, COMMUNITY
SAFETY. CHANGES ARE COMING IN. I
WANT TO CONGRATULATE DIRECTOR
KIM, I SHOULD ADD CHIEF DEPUTY
MAYOR OF WASHINGTON. I THINK
THAT THEIR BRIEFING AND THE WORK
THAT THEY HAVE DONE, THE CHANGES
THAT THEY HAVE DONE GO TO THIS
GOOD GOVERNANCE POINT.
APPRECIATE THEIR WORK AND FOLLOW
UP AND ENGAGE AGAINST FROM OUR
DUE DILIGENCE. IT IS IMPORTANT,
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ADDRESS THE SCENE BETWEEN PUBLIC
SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES. I THINK AS RESPECT TO
COMMUNITY SAFETY, I APPRECIATE
THEM GIVING THEIR BRIEFING TO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IT
IS A STEP FORWARD. IT IS A
POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET
AND GOOD GOVERNORRANCE OVERALL.
I WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK DIRECTOR AND MEMBERS OF
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR OUR
DISCUSSIONS FOR THE SEATTLE
HOUSING PLAN? I KNOW THERE WILL
BE, TOMORROW, I THINK, WE WILL
GET A DOCUMENT RELATED TO A
SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN
THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO
FIRST THROUGH A SLIDE AND THEN I
HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO IT ON A
REGULAR BASIS. WE PLEAD TO UNDER
STAND THE REVENUE PIECES AND HOW
THEY INTERACT. WE TALK ABOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE 68AMI,
HEY, OKAY, WE ARE GOOD THERE BUT
HOW ABOUT 30% AND LOOKING AT
REVENUE, WE NEED A STRATEGY. I
AM HOPING THE SEATTLE HOUSING
PLAN DOES THAT. I THINK WE WILL
RECEIVE IT TOMORROW, WILL
RECEIVE IT TOMORROW. THAT GOES
TO THE ABILITY TO WORK THE
FUNDING, WORK THESE PIECES AND
THE TRANSPARENCY HELPFUL BECAUSE
THERE ARE DIFFERENT
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MONEYS
AS WE LOOK AT LIKE ON SLIDE 19
WE LOOK AT MONEYS AND WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND IT AND OUR ABILITY
AND WORKING BEHIND THE FUNDING.
I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. I
THANK THE DIRECTOR FOR HER WORK.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST PHASE OF
THERE IS DEFINITELY STARTING AND
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. THANK
YOU. I ALWAYS WANT TO THANK
DIRECTOR, YOU ARE ON POINT
REGARDING THE RAINY DAY
EMERGENCY FUNDING. WE NEED TO BE
DOING OUR WORK THAT IS NEEDED
THERE. YOU KNOW, THESE FUNDS
NEED TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE
EVENT OF THE GREAT RECESSION OR
PANDEMIC. YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR
IS NOT AN EMERGENCY YEAR. WE
HAVE TO THINK OF THE FUNDS AS
FOR THAT KIND OF LEVEL OF
DISRUPTION. IT IS A GREAT
RECESSION OR A PANDEMIC. WE NEED
TO THINK OF THAT AS WE LOOK AND
WORK THROUGH THIS BUDGET
PROCESS. AND ONE LAST PIECE.
THERE GOES TO THE FUNDING PIECE.
IT IS, WE CAN NOT RELY ON A WISH
STRATEGY AS IT COMES TO CREATING
REVENUE FOR EVERY ACTION THERE
IS A REACTION. I KNOW, I KNOW
PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR AMAZON THAT
WORK IN BELLEVUE INSTEAD OF
SEATTLE. WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL
OF THE RESPECTS BECAUSE WE HAVE
A LOT OF NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE EASIER TO
COME AS WE WORK THROUGH OUR
TRANSPORTATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN
LIVE AND WORK IN DIFFERENT
PLACES. WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF
THAT. A GOOD GOVERNANCE PIECE AS
WELL. AS WE GO THROUGH THE STEPS
WE PLEAD TO BEING LOOK AT THE
SECOND AND THIRD ORDER EFFECTS,
WE WILL HAVE THIS REVENUE, BUT,
IN FACT, WE MAY NOT BECAUSE,
LIKE I SAID, FOR EVERY ACTION
THERE COULD BE A REACTION. AND,
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, CLAIRE
STRAUSS. I JUST WANT TO
SPECIFICALLY THANK -- CHAIR
STRAUSS. I JUST WANT TO
SPECIFICALLY THANK THE PUBLIC
CHAIRS OFFICE, THE DEPARTMENTS,
WE HAVE NINE PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENTS. OR OFFICES AND
COMMISSION AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING THESE AREAS AND ENSURING
FROM THE BUDGET PERSPECTIVE THAT
WE ARE GOOD. CHAIR, WE HAVE DONE
MANY RESTRUCTURAL FORM IN THIS
AREA. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
THOSE INVOLVED THAT WE HAVE BEEN
ENGAGING WITH OVER THE COURSE OF
THE YEAR. WITH THAT, CHAIR,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER S AKA?
>> THANK -- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR EDER FOR
SHARING THE HIGH OVERALL VIEW OF
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TODAY. A
COUPLE QUESTIONS. I GUESS,
FIRST, TURNING TO SLIDE 26. THE
FEDERAL RESPONSE PORTION NOTING
THE $28 MILLION EVER THE
PROPOSED B&O PROCEEDS WOULD BE
USED FOR THOSE FOUR INVESTMENT
CATEGORIES. I WOULD JUST SAY
THAT I THINK THOSE ARE THE
CORRECT AND APPROPRIATE FEDERAL
BACKFILL ITEMS AND REFLECT THE
HIGHEST PRIORITIES THAT ALIGN
WITH THE CITY'S VALUES AND THE
GREATEST NEEDS. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS CUTTING FIRST AND
ASKING QUESTIONS LATER. HAVING
TREMENDOUS IMPACTS ON PEOPLE'S
EVERYDAY LIVES WY CAN NOT BE ALL
THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE ALL OF THE
TIME. BUT WE NEED TO HELP
BACKFILL THESE PROJECTS. THIS
BROAD CATEGORY OF INVESTMENTS
HERE ARE DIRECTLY REFLECTIVE OF
THAT. AND, ONE OF THEM FOR
EXAMPLE IS THE IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR ADDING
THAT AS A SPENDING CATEGORY. ON
THE ADDITIONAL FOOD INVESTMENTS,
FOOD IS THE MOST BASIC NEEDS
THAT WE ALL NEED. $10.3 MILLION
THERE, HOW MUCH OF THAT I NOTE
ON AN EARLIER SLIDE YOU TALKED
ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER SORT OF
FOOD INVESTMENTS AND FOOD
DESERTS INCLUDING PILOT TO
SUPPORT OPENING AND EXPANSION OF
SMALL BUSINESSES, CORNER STORES
ET CETERA, FARMER'S MARKET
EXPANSION IN LAKE CITY. OF THIS
$10.3 MILLION IN FOOD
INVESTMENT, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS
DEVOTED TOWARDS ACROSS OUR CITY.
FOOD BANKS WOULD GET $3 MILLION
OUT OF THAT $10 MILLION YOU WERE
REFERENCES COUNCILMEMBER.
BRINGING OUR TOTAL INVESTMENTS
IN FOOD BANKS TO $6.5 MILLION IN
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO, ROUGHLY DOUBLE OUR
INVESTMENT IN FOOD BANKS FROM
$-- 3.5 TO 6.5.
>> THE YEAR OVER YEAR GAIN IS
$3.5 MILLION EXTRA ON TOP OF
LAST YEARS? FOR FOOD BANKS?
>> JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THE
ADD IS $3 MILLION.
>> OF THE $4 MILLION FOR
SUPPORTING TENANTS, EMERGENCY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. I HAD A GREAT
MEETING THE OTHER DAY WITH
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE RENTERS
COMMISSION. THEY AMONG OTHER
THINGS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE BUT ALSO BEING
PAIRED WITH TENANT SERVICES. SO,
JUST CURIOUS HOW MUCH OF THAT $4
MILLION, IN ANY OR OTHER
PORTIONS EVER THE BUDGET TO THE
EXTENT RELEVANT WOULD BE USED TO
FUND TENANT SERVICES?
>> THE EMERGENCY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AT $4 MILLION IS AN
INCREASE ON $7.5 MILLION BASE.
SO, THAT WOULD BRING OUR
INVESTMENT UP TO $11.5 MILLION
IN TOTAL FOR THE PROPOSED
BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. DOES THAT
INVESTMENT INCLUDE TENANT
SERVICES FUNDING AND INVESTMENT
FOR TENANT SERVICES OR JUST
RENTAL?
>> I WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU. I BELIEVE IT IS JUST RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. I WOULD PREFER TO
GIVE YOU A PRECISE ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU, THAT WILL BE
HELPFUL. MOVING ON TO SLIDE
NUMBER 24. SAFETY SLIDE. NOTE
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLACED
INVESTMENT BULLET, BUDGET THERE,
THAT $4 MILLION REFLECTED IN THE
SECOND BULLET. FOR IMPROVING
PUBLIC SAFETY, PROMOTE ECONOMIC
GROWTH IS THAT DOES THE SCOPE OF
THAT INVESTMENT INCLUDE
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS AND
REVIVALS IN THOSE AREAS GOING
TOWARDS PIONEER SQUARE, PART OF
THE CLEANUP EFFORT. IS THAT THE
SAME CATEGORY OF INVESTMENTS
THAT WOULD GO AND COVER PIONEER
SQUARE, OUR BACKDOOR FOR OUR
FRONT PORCH, REALLY, FOR ALL OF
THE UP COMING FIFA ACTIVITIES
AND EFFORTS?
>> YES, COUNCILMEMBER, THAT IS
CORRECT. IT WOULD EXPAND THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM WORK
THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE
CORE OF DOWNTOWN TO PIONEER
SQUARE. TO THE OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I WOULD
MENTION, LAKE CITY AND LITTLE
SAIGON. WE WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE
NEIGHBORHOODS IF THE FUNDING
ALLOWS IT, WE WILL. IF THERE IS
MORE MONEY TO BE ALLOCATED.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING, GOOD
TO KNOW THAT PIONEER SQUARE WILL
BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE $4
MILLION OF NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP
RESTORATION EFFORTS. ALL RIGHT.
THAT, THAT IS ALL I HAVE. NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT
THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE
GENERAL QUESTION. SO, HOW MUCH
TOTAL WAS, WHAT WAS THE TOTAL
AMOUNT CUT WHEN YOU ASKED ALL OF
THE DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE VARIOUS
PERCENTAGES OF CUTS? DO YOU HAVE
THAT NUMBER?
>> I DO NOT HAVE IT AT MY
FINGERTIPS BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE
ASKING WHEN WE ASKED FOR
REDUCTIONS IN THE '26 BUDGET,
WE ASKED FOR A RANGE BETWEEN 2%
AND 8% YOU ARE ASKING WHAT THE
TOTAL AMOUNT WAS?
>> YEAH, WHAT WOULD THAT
REPRESENT IN DOLLARS? I CAN GIVE
YOU AN ESTIMATE BUT I WOULD
RATHER FOLLOW UP WITH A PRECISE
NUMBER.
>> OKAY. I ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY
WISELY AND WHEN THE MAYOR ASKS
FOR REDUCTIONS IT IS GOOD TO
KNOW WHAT IS REDUCED BECAUSE IT,
IT DOES INDICATE WHAT PROGRAMS
WE MIGHT OF APPROVED LAST YEAR
THAT ARE NOT GOING TO GET
FUNDED. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
DIGGING INTO THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, ON PAGE 25, UNDER
THE INVESTMENTS IN REDUCING
HOMELESSNESS, THERE ARE $36
MILLION, INCLUDED IS RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. WE ARE PAYING
PEOPLE'S RENT, RIGHT? IF THAT
IS CORRECT HOW MUCH OF THE $36
DOES THAT REPRESENT?
>> I AM NOT SURE I FULLY
UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
>> YEAH. RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
UNDER THE $36 MILLION. WHAT FORM
OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOW
MUCH IS THAT?
>> WELL, THE INFORMATION THAT I
HAVE AT MY FINGERTIPS IS $36
MILLION, THE LARGEST CATEGORIES
ARE $11.5 MILLION FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE THAT PROVIDES FOLKS
WHO ARE IN NEED OF HELP PAYING
BACK RENT OR WHO HAVE LATE
PAYMENTS AND THEN ARE AT RISK OF
EVICTION. BUT FOR SOME HELP FROM
THE CITY TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING
KICKED OUT OF THEIR RENTAL
UNITS. THERE IS $9 MILLION THAT
IS INCLUDED IN HSD, I MENTIONED,
THE LAST CATEGORY OF FEDERAL
RESPONSE IS EFFECTIVELY A "WHAT
IF" THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THE THREATS
AND ITS ATTEMPTS THAT HAVE BEEN
THUS FAR STOPPED BY THE COURTS.
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BACKFILL A
PORTION OF THE CONTINUE OF CARE
FUNDING THAT GOES TO SUPPORT
PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING
AND, AND, SHELTER SERVICES. AND
THEN THE $4 MILLION ADDED FOR
EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS
ALSO IN THE MIX. I WILL NOTE A
STRONG SUPPORTER OF DIRECT
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. IT IS, IT
PREVENTS HOMELESSNESS. IF YOU
CAN KEEP SOMEONE IN THEIR HOME
THEN IT, WELL, IT IS THE RIGHT
THING ON DO AND ALSO IT PREVENTS
THE NEED FOR THE MORE AND MORE
HOUSING PROJECTS TO BE BUILT TO
DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO END UP
HOMELESS AND THEN SOMETIMES FALL
INTO ADDICTION ON THE STREET AND
DOWNWARD SPIRAL. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THE RECORD IS CLEAR. OKAY.
SO, I WILL LISTEN MORE CAREFULLY
WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THERE CATEGORY LATER IN THE
WEEK. ONE QUESTION IS, DO --
WELL, BACK UP, WAS LAST YEAR'S
COUNCIL ALLOCATED $3 MILLION
GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE AND WE
SORT OF WE DEPLETED THE
JUMP-START RESERVES FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, DO YOU KNOW IF THAT
WAS DISBURSED?
>> I WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON THE
DETAILS ABOUT IT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT IS IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS --
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA I SEE YOU
HAVE A HAND SECOND TIME I WILL
SHARE MY COMMENTS AHEAD OF THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS RIGHT NOW? I
AM ASSUMING NONE. I WILL TAKE
DOWN THROUGH MY QUESTIONS HERE,
DIRECTOR EDER. I WILL START WITH
MY COMMENTS, THANK YOU FIRST AND
FOREMOST DOING EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO TAKE LAYOFFS OFF OF
THE TABLE. I KNOW THEY WERE ON
THE TABLE UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE
BECAUSE THERE WERE HARD BUDGET
DECISIONS MADE. SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES SHARED ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT PROPOSALS ET CETERA.
IF WE ARE, THE BENEFIT HERE IS
THAT YOU CRAFTED A BUDGET THAT
IS ABLE TO RESPONSE TO THE
FEDERAL, AND ABLE TO SERVE
PEOPLE AND ABLE TO KEEP OUR CITY
WORKERS WORKING. WHY THAT IS
IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THE FOLKS
THAT CHOOSE TO WORK FOR CITY OR
MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY OR STATE
ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE BOTTOM
LINE, SERVICE. SERVICE TO CITY,
SERVICE TO COUNTY, SERVICE TO
NATION. SO, OFTEN YOU SEE A
SIMILAR JOB THAT IS POSTED AT
THE CITY AND MAKE TWICE AS MUCH
GOING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THAT IS WHY LAYOFFERS ARE A
REGULAR OCCURRENCE IN PRIVATE
SECTOR AND IRREGULAR IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR DOING ALL YOU COULD TO
PRESERVE EVERYONE'S JOB.
UNDERSTANDING THAT UNFILLED
POSITIONS MAY BE REDUCED AND
THAT, I THINK, THAT IS A GOOD
BALANCE THERE. YOU RAISED THE
ITEMS OF UNCERTAINTY NOTING THAT
FROM THE OCTOBER LAST YEAR TO
APRIL OF THIS YEAR REVENUE
FORECASTS THERE WAS A HIGH DEAL
OF UNCERTAINTY. THEN, FROM APRIL
TO AUGUST VOLATILITY, AGAIN,
CREATED, IT FELT LIKE A --
MENDULUM GOING BACK AND FORTH.
WE PAID FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO
KEEP PEOPLE FROM BECOMING
HOMELESS AND MAKE SURE THEY CAN
STAY HOUSED AND BUY GROCERIES AS
WELL. THESE ARE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT THINGS. AND,
COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR
UNDERSTANDING IN EVERYTHING THAT
I DO, I HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, LIKE THIS ONE, PRIMARY,
EXSILLARY, EMERGENCY ROUTES.
AND, COLLEAGUES, KNOW AS I AM
CRAFTING THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE WE
SHOULD ALL BE LOOKING AT THIS AS
BEST CASE SCENARIO. WHAT IS THE
ROUTE WE ARE TAKING IF WE HAVE
TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE ANOTHER STEP
TO CONTINGENCY ROUTE, HOPEFULLY
WE WILL NOT HAVE TO USE THE
EMERGENCY ROUTE. UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE UNCERTAINTY THAT OUR
NATION HAS FELT SINGS THE
CHAIR'S PACKAGE LAST YEAR IS
MORE THAN I HAVE SEEN IN MY
LIFETIME BUT AGAIN I AM A COUPLE
YEARS YOUNGER THAN EVERYONE HERE
>> NOT EVERYONE, NOT EVERYONE [
LAUGHTER ]
>> MY APOLOGIZES. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> AND ALSO BRINGING UP THAT,
YOU KNOW, IT IS AN ENDORSED
BUDGET. AND, WITH EVERY ENDORSED
BUDGET, EVERY YEAR, CHANGES ARE
MADE. IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE
MAKE CHANGES MIDYEAR WITH
MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL AND OUR
CARRY FORWARD FUNDS, THIS IS THE
NATURE OF BUDGETING BECAUSE IF
WE GOT STUCK IN THE MUD TWO
YEARS AGO AND THE WHOLE WORLD
CHANGED AROUND US AND STUCK TO A
PLAN THAT WE PLAYED TWO YEARS
AGO WE WOULD NOT BE SERVING
SEATTLE TO THE BEST OF OUR
ABILITY. SPECIFICALLY IN THIS
BUDGET WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES
AND WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT
WHAT IS WORKING, WHAT NEEDS
IMPROVEMENT, ARE WE STILL
ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES FROM
PREPANDEMIC AND NOW WE HAVE TO
CREATE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAT
ADDRESS THE FEDERAL EXPERIENCES.
IF AT THIS TIME WE CAN GO TO
SLIDE 16. THERE IS A HELPFUL
SLIDE. THERE IS A TRANSPARENT
SLIDE. IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS
STILL A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT IS WHY WE WILL CONTINUE
TO ENGAGE IN BUDGET REFORM HERE
AT THE COUNCIL. THERE IS A GAP
IN 2027. AND NOTING THAT WE HAD
A RUNNING GAP IN THE OUTYEAR FOR
MANY YEARS. WE DID -- AND
DIRECTOR EDER, YOU DID A VERY
GOOD JOB LAST YEAR OF ALMOST
COLLAPSING THAT GAP ENTIRELY
UNTIL THIS REVENUE FORECAST OF
UNCERTAINTY THAT WE EXPERIENCED
THIS YEAR. THAT, COLLEAGUES, IS
WHY THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS SO
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. WE ENGAGED
IN ROBUST BUDGET REFORM, WE WILL
CONTINUE DO DO THAT BUT THE
DECISION THAT WERE EASY TO MAKE
ARE HARD AND NOW THE HARD
DECISIONS ARE BEFORE US. CAN YOU
REMIND THE BODY ABOUT THE
INFLATION LEVELS OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS AND THROUGH THIS
SLIDE? I KNOW THEY HAVE SPIKED.
I BELIEVE, AS HIGH AS 5. 5 OR
6.5. DIPPED AS LOW AS 3%, I AM
DOING IT ALL OFF OF THE TOP EVER
MY HEAD. CAN YOU GIVE US A
PICTURE OF HOW INFLATION PLAYS
ON THIS CHART?
>> GENERAL INFLATION HAS BEEN AS
HIGH AS 8 OR 9% IN THE EARLY
'20s. DR. NOBLE?
>> ONE YEAR 9% IF I RECALL.
AVERAGE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS
WELL ABOVE THE RECENT HISTORY
PRIOR.
>> AND I DID ASK MY STAFF TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THE HOW THAT
GREEN BAR WOULD HAVE CHANGED
PURELY FROM GENERAL INFLATION
AND I WAS ASSURED IT WOULD TRACK
CLOSELY. IN FACT, I ASKED THEM
TO PROVE THE POINT AND THEY
DEMONSTRATED TO ME THAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY UNDER THE
LEVEL OF GENERALIZED INFLATION.
ABOUT $100 MILLION UNDER WHAT
THE 2019 SPENDING WOULD HAVE
LOOKED LIKE HAD WE JUST APPLIED
STRAIGHT INFLATION TO THAT LEVEL
OF SPENDING.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> AND I WILL NOTE THAT PART OF
HOW WE GOT TO A STRUCTURAL
BUDGET WHOLE WAS FROM THE YEARS
OF 2015-2020 AND A LITTLE BEFORE
THAT. WE WERE THE FASTEST
GROWING CITY IN THE NATION, WE
WERE RECEIVING CONSTRUCTION
SALES TAX AND THE PROPERTY TAX
AND NEW CONSTRUCTION. AND, SO,
THAT IS WHAT BUILT A BUDGET.
WITH 2020 AND THE PAN DEMIC AND
WORK FROM HOME AND OUR
CONSTRUCTION BOOM DROPPING, THE
JUMP-START TAX IS WHAT KEPT
THIS, KEPT SERVICES BEING ABLE
TO BE APPLIED TO SEATTLE. KEPT A
LOT OF OUR BASIC SERVICES, WE
SAW THAT LAST YEAR IN SOME OF
THE WORK THAT WE DID. WITHOUT
THE JUMP-START FUND WE WOULD BE
IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION OF
CUTTING LARGE PORTION OF THE
SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO
SEATTLEITES THAT THEY RELY ON.
AND THAT SAID, IT IS INTENDED TO
TRY TO GET US BACK INTO A PLACE
OF A STABLE ECONOMY. AGAIN, LAST
YEAR WE THROUGHOUT WE WOULD BE
THERE. BUT FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WE ARE STILL IN A
PERIOD WHERE WE ARE WAITING AND
RELYING ON THE JUMP-START FUND
BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING ON THE
ECONOMY TO TAKE BACK UP LIKE IT
DID BEFORE. I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT WE WILL, YOU KNOW, STEP
RIGHT BACK INTO THE FASTEST
GROWING CITY IN THE NATION, AND
THAT IS OKAY. BUT WE ARE ABOUT
TO WE ARE PINING FOR THE
REGROWTH. IT WILL HELP OUR
BUDGET F. YOU CAN TICK ON TO
SLIDE NUMBER 19. YES, THIS ONE.
SO, CAN YOU, CAN YOU SHARE WITH
ME, MAYBE IT IS IN THERE AND
HAVE THE DIFFERENCE OF
HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND FUNDING
SERVICE THE LEVY JUMP-START AND
THE TYPES OF SPENDING THAT IS
HAPPENING, RATHER, IT BREAKS OUT
THE CATEGORY OF REVENUE THAT IS
USED TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL
SPENDING. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND GET YOU
DETAILED INFORMATION FOR ANY OF
THESE YEARS. OR ALL OF THEM IF
YOU SO CHOSE, THE EASIEST TO DO
THE '26, MORE AND MORE WORK AS
WE GO BACK 10 YEARS. BUT, WE
WILL DO WHATEVER YOU NEED.
>> HAPPY TO WAIT FOR HOUSING'S
PRESENTATION, NOTING THAT IN
2015 THERE IS A $52 MILLION AND
TODAY THEY AS WELL $349 MILLION.
IT SPEAKS TO COUNCILMEMBER'S
KETTLE'S REQUEST FOR THE
SHIPSHAPE PLAN TO MAKE SURE OUR
SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN
IS SERVING SEATTLE SEAT
SEATITES. AND SO OFTEN, THINGS
LIKE A DOWN PAYMENT ARE THE
BARRIER TO PURCHASING A HOME.
BECAUSE A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT
CAN BE THE SAME PRICE AS A
MORTGAGE IN THIS CITY. RIGHT?
THE BARRIER OF A DOWN PAYMENT IS
WHAT STOPS A PERSON FROM BEING
ABLE TO STEP OUT OF RENTAL AND
INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP. I WILL SAY
HOUSING MONEY SHOULD NOT BE MADE
FOR THAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR INCREASING OUR CONTRACTOR
PAY RATE. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT
WOULD OTHERWISE BE CITY
EMPLOYEES YET FOR THE NATURE OF
OUR RELATIONSHIP. THEY ARE,
COLLEAGUES, DOING CITY WORK. ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR SEATTLE.
AND THAT DIFFERENCE OF THE PAY
RATES STILL EXISTS AND I
APPRECIATE YOU CONTINUING TO BE
FOCUSED ON MINIMIZING AND
REDUCING THAT GAP. GO TO SLIDE
NUMBER 22. IT IS NOT LOST ON ME
THAT THE PHRASE THAT IS COMMONLY
USED BY OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT
WAS USED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN. I
TOOK THE MOMENT TO REFRAIN FROM
SAYING THAT. I DON'T WANT TO
BEETLEJUICE THE MOMENT BUT JUST
TO SAY THAT THE MANY OF THE
ISSUES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING
ON OUR STREETS IF IT IS MENTAL
HEALTH, HOUSING INSTABILITY IT
STARTED IN THE 1980s AND WE ARE
NOW EXPERIENCING GENERATIONAL
TRAUMA AND CITIES, COUNTIES,
STATES ARE BEING TOLD IT IS
THEIR FAULT AND IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY. I AM NOT HERE TO
PUT FAULT. I AM HERE TO SAY THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
DOING THEIR PART. AND I AM NOT
GOING TO WAIT FOR THEM TO
CONTINUE SERVING SEATTLE AND THE
PEOPLE WHO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAD LEFT ON OUR
STREETS. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE
THIS BECAUSE THE LEAD CAPACITY
IS CRITICAL. YOU KNOW, I KNOW OF
PEOPLE WHO OUR UNIFIED CARE TEAM
HAS BEEN KICKED OUT OF SHELTER.
TINY HOME VILLAGES. THAT IS BAD
AND IT SOUNDS BAD. BUT IN 2019
WE COULD NOT OF GOTTEN THEM INTO
SHELTER. SO, BEING IN THAT PLACE
WHERE WE ARE NOW THEY HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO GET IN SHELTER AND
KICKED OUT THAT MEANS THEY NEED
A DIFFERENT INTERVENTION. AND,
THIS IS THAT INTERVENTION. WE
HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
SUCCESSFUL IN TINY HOME VILLAGES
ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE LEAD
UNITS AND, WE LOOK AT THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY MODEL THAT THE
STATE USED WHERE IN A LOT OF
THEIR SUCCESS, BASED ON HAVING
THE LEAD BEDS AND ACCESS TO
HOUSING ACROSS THE STATE. DOING
MORE AND, THANK YOU, FOR
REOPENING THE CAPACITY TO HAVE
MORE REFERRALS. WE HAVE SEEN
ISSUES WHERE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES ON
THE STREETS. AND THAT IS BECAUSE
WE DON'T HAVE A SHELTER, A TYPE
OF APPROPRIATE SHELTER THAT
COMES WITH THE RESOURCES THAT
ARE NEEDED TO STABILIZE THAT
INDIVIDUAL. WE HAVE NOT HAD
ACCESS TO THEM. I APPRECIATE YOU
BEING, YOU PUTTING THIS IN. I
WILL ALSO SAY, EXPANDING OF
CARE, FIRE DEPARTMENT RECRUITS,
THIS IS HOW WE CARE FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO LEFT, WHO HAVE BEEN
LEFT BEHIND BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SINCE THE 1980s. I
APPRECIATE YOU FOCUSING IN ON
THAT. I DO WANT TO TICK ON TO
SLIDE NUMBER 23.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS. IF YOU DON'T
MIND. I WANT REMISS NOT THANKING
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND KETTLE ON
THE PROPOSAL THAT ENABLES US ON
THIS BUDGET PROPOSE SPENDING
THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE THINGS
YOU ARE SPEAKING OF. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOU ALL
FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF
PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ON THIS SLIDE, JUST WANT TO
DIG IN HERE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON
THE ENDORSED VERSUS ACTUAL. YOU
GOT THE REVISED BUDGET, I
BELIEVE, YE-SUP MEAN YEAR END
SUPPLEMENTAL OR MAYBE WALK ME
THROUGH.
>> HAPPY TO DO THAT. YE IS YEAR
END, THAT IS THE, THAT IS THE
ADDITIONAL SPENDING AUTHORITY
THAT WE ARE REQUESTING AND
PROPOSING FOR 2025. THERE WILL
BE OTHER ELEMENTS IN THERE. THAT
IS ONE OF THE BIG OAST AND MOST
IMPORTANT ONES. SO, JUST
LOOKING, ONE YEAR AT A TIME. IN
2025, THE ADOPTED BUDGET,
ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD HIRE 120
NEW OFFICERS. THE SECOND ROW
SHOWS WHAT OUR CURRENT
PROJECTION IS. WE EXPECT TO HIRE
172 NEW OFFICERS, 52 NET
OFFICERS. WE ANTICIPATED 105
SWORN OFFICERS WOULD LEAVE THE
CITY IN 2025. AS OF THE TIME OF
THE ADOPTED BUDGET. WE NOW,
BASED ON UPDATED PROJECTIONS
THROUGH THIS MONTH, ANTICIPATE
THAT ONLY 81 WILL LEAVE. SO,
THAT IS 25 OR SO, 24, I GUESS,
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS WHO ARE ON
STAFF. SO, THOSE TWO COMBINED
MEANS THAT WE HAD FUNDED IN THE
ADOPTED BUDGET A NET INCREASE IN
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OFFICERS OF
15 POLICE OFFICERS. INSTEAD, WE
NOW EXPECT TO HAVE 91 NET NEW
OFFICERS IN 2025. THE DIFFERENCE
IS 76 OFFICERS WHO WERE NOT
FUNDED, BECAUSE WE WERE NOT
EXPECTING TO HAVE THEM IN 2025.
SO, THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO, WE
HAVE TO SUPPORT THOSE OFFICERS
WITH WAGES, BENEFITS, UNIFORMS,
USE OF CARS, ET CETERA. FOR A
TOTAL OF $13 MILLION IN 2025.
SO, WE ARE PROPOSING ALONG WITH
THE '26 PROPOSED BUDGET THERE
WILL BE SEPARATE LEGISLATION
THAT INCREASES APPROPRIATIONS
FOR 2025 IN PART, WELL, PART OF
THAT, MIX OF THINGS, $13 MILLION
OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. WE WILL WALK THROUGH
IN DETAIL THE 2026 LINE ITEMS,
SIMILAR IN THEIR BOTH DIRECTION
AND AMOUNTS. BOTTOM LINE, NEW
EXPECTATION OF NEEDING TO FUND
THE COST OF 71 EXTRA POLICE
OFFICERS IN 2026. TOTAL OF $26
MILLION BETWEEN 25 NEW OFFICERS
HIRED AND SO ON IN '26. AND THE
NEW OFFICERS WHO WILL BE COMING
ON THAT WE WERE NOT EXPECTING
FOR 2026.
>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR NOBLE HAS
SOMETHING TO SHARE AND I WILL
SUMMARIZE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION I DON'T
EXPECT AN ANSWER TO NOW.
>> THEN LET ME FINISH THIS LINE
OF THOUGHT, THEN. DIRECTOR EDER
WHAT I AM HEARING HIGH-LEVEL,
BEYOND HIRING MORE PEOPLE, MORE
OFFICERS THAN WE ANTICIPATED AND
I WILL SAY OVER THE COURSE EVER
THE YEARS I DON'T THINK WE EVER
HIRED MORE OFFICERS THAN WE
ANTICIPATED AND THAT GOES BACK
TO EVEN 2020 IS THAT CORRECT?
ARE WE IN A NEW SITUATION HERE?
HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT?
>> I KNOW WE ARE AT A HISTORIC
HIGH BY A LONGSHOT, BY TENS AND
TENS OF OFFICERS, THE TOTAL
NUMBER, 172 THAT WE NOW EXPECT
TO BRING ON IS SUBSTANTIALLY
HIGHER THAN WE EVER DONE BEFORE
IN THIS CENTURY FOR SURE. THE
PROJECTIONS IN YEAR'S PAST, I
THINK, HAVE BEEN OVERLY ROSIE.
REALITY HAS JUST SHOWN THAT WE
EITHER HAD MORE SEPARATIONS OR
FEWER HIGHERS. AS A POINT OF
COMPARISON, 2024, WE HAD ONE NEW
NET OFFICER. I DON'T RECALL HOW
MANY OFFICERS WE BROUGHT ON
BOARD BUT, WE HAD ROUGHLY THE
SAME OFFICERS LEAVE AND ENDED UP
WITH ONE MORE THAN WE STARTED
WITH BETWEEN THE BEGINTH
BEGINNING OF TO THE END EFFORT
YEAR. AND NOW 71 AND NOW 86
ANTICIPATED FOR 2026.
>> SO, BEYOND JUST HIRING,
BREAKING OUR EXPECTATIONS OF
RECRUITMENT AND HIRING, SO
RECRUITMENT AND APPLICATION
BEING DIFFERENT THAN AN OFFICER
HIRED AND PAID. BEYOND BREAKING
THAT, WE ARE ALSO, WE HAVE FEWER
OFFICERS LEAVING THE DEPARTMENT
THAN WE EXPECTED.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> AND THAT IS WHAT, I AM USING
YOUR WORDS, A GOOD PROBLEM, A
GOOD HARD PROBLEM TO HAVE EVEN
THOUGH YOU DID NOT USE THOSE
WORDS EXACTLY. WE ARE HIRING THE
OFFICERS WE NEED, HOWEVER, THAT
CREATES A BUDGET CHALLENGE
BECAUSE OFFICERS SALARIES ARE
EXPENSIVE
>> THAT IS RIGHT, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THE ONLY WAY NOT TO HAVE SOME
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
EXTRA COST IS STOP HIRING
OFFICERS WHICH IS IN OUR POWER
TO DO BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT
IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE
THINK THE CITY NEEDS MORE
OFFICERS TO DELIVER PUBLIC
SAFETY FOR THOSE THAT LIVE,
VISIT AND WORK HERE.
>> AND TICKING ON TO 2026,
OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN
LOOKING, AND I SEE DIRECTOR
NOBLE HAS THAT QUESTION STILL,
SAYING OFTENTIMES FOR
PROJECTIONS WE WILL TAKE THE
LAST TWO YEARS AND PROJECT THE
NEXT YEAR. I SEE THAT YOUR 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET HAS FEWER
ESTIMATED HIRES THAN THIS YEAR,
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND YOUR
THINKING HERE? BEING
CONSERVATIVE? REALISTIC? TRYING
NOT TO OVERPROJECT? AS YOU SAID
IT WOULD HAVE A FINANCIAL IMPACT
ON OUR BUDGET? HELP ME
UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE HERE AND
GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
>> YEAH, SO, WE RELY ON SPD TO
GIVE US A STAFFING PLAN AND
PROVIDE THAT STAFFING PLAN TO
THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AS WELL. WE ARE
TRYING NOT TO GAIN ANYTHING
HERE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THINKS THESE ARE THE NUMBER OF
OFFICERS THEY ARE GOING TO HIRE
AND THEY ARE USING THEIR BEST
ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MANY OFFICERS
ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE THE CITY.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE NOT PERFECTLY
KNOWABLE. BUT, BASED ON TRENDS
AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE WE
RELY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
GIVE US THEIR BEST LOOK FORWARD
ON BOTH FRONTS. THIS IS WHAT
THEY GAVE US AND THIS IS WHAT WE
ARE FUNDING
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO SLIDE
24. I ONLY HAVE TWO MORE SLIDES
OF QUESTION. DIRECTOR NOBLE YOU
HAVE SOMETHING?
>> THE QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR
EDER. I DON'T BELIEVE THE 2026
COST IS THE FULL ONGOING COST OF
SUPPORTING AMOUNTS TO 147
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS BECAUSE,
AGAIN, THEY WILL STILL BRING
THEM ONLINE OVER THE COURSE OF
2026. UNDERSTANDING WITH THE
LONGER TERM, IF YOU WILL. USEFUL
CONTEXT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
EVERYONE WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF
THE EFFORT. SUSTAINABILITY
UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE LONG-TERM
COST IS, IT IS IMPORTANT.
>> I DON'T HAVE A READY ANSWER
FOR HOW MUCH THE COST WILL BE
FOR ALL OF THOSE OFFICERS IN
2027 BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT
IS PART OF THE THINKING OF THE
EXPECTED EXPENSES IN 2027 WHEN
WE SHOWED YOU THE SLIDE WITH
$140 MILLION GAP BETWEEN
REVENUES AND EXPENSES. THOSE ARE
ANTICIPATED TO COME IN 2027.
>> ALL RIGHT. FOLLOW UP TO THAT,
ARE THERE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
CONTINUED EXPANDS EVER THE FORCE
OR 2027 FORECAST OF THE DEFICIT
BASED ON THE STAFFING LEVELS
THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THESE
HIRING PATTERNS AT THE END OF
'26?
>> I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH AN
ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. I
PREFER TO GET YOU AN ACCURATE
ANSWER.
>> APPRECIATE THAT. DEFICITS ARE
PROJECTED THE GENERAL PATTERN IS
TO TAKE THE THEN ASSUMED LEVEL
OF STAFFING ACROSS THE CITY NOT
JUST SPD AND PRICE IT OUT IF YOU
WILL OR COST IT OUT FOR THE
YEARS GOING FORWARD. SOME SENSE,
THE EXTENT OF THE COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR DEDICATED TO EXPANDING
THE POLICE FORCE. WE
UNDERSTATING THE PROJECTED
DEFICITS. HAVE NOT MADE THE
PRESUMPTIONS AND IN THE PAST WE
DID NOT DO THE HIRING? NOW THAT
WE CAN, IF WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND
THE POLICE FORCE THE DEFICIT IS
SOMEWHAT LARGER THAN PROJECTING
NOT ASSUMING THAT IN THE
UNDERLINING CALCULATIONS, A
TECHNICAL POINT BUT A
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL ONE.
>> VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR NOBLE.
>> IF WE TICK TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
MAYBE IT IS A QUESTION FOR S-DOT
OR SEATTLE CENTER WHOEVER HAS
THE REMOVE ANNUAL BARRIERS,
MAYBE IT IS OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, AS NORMAL PROCESS
IS, YOU GAVE US THE BUDGET TWO
DAYS AGO AND WE ARE DIGGING
THROUGH IT NOW. YOU HIGHLIGHTED
THESE REMOVABLE BARRIERS I JUST
WANT TO ASK HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP,
WHAT IS THE USE FOR THEM AFTER
FIFA? I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND
PIKE PLACE AND SEATTLE CENTER
WILL NEED TO USE THEM. I RAISE
THE QUESTION BECAUSE I HEARD
FROM THE FARMER'S MARKET
ASSOCIATION FROM SEATTLE IF IT
IS THE WEST SEATTLE, BALLARD,
FREMONT MARKETS, THEY WANT THESE
AND SO, EVEN BEYOND JUST SEATTLE
CENTER AND PIKE PLACE MARKET.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE USE OF
THESE. HOW CAN WE BETTER PROTECT
THE OTHER MARKETS AS WELL?
>> I CAN READILY ANSWER THE
FIRST QUESTION. JUST, TO MAKE
CLEAR WHAT I MEANT, THEY ARE NOT
PERMANENTLY AFFIXED ON THE
STREET. THEY CAN BE REMOVED
EITHER TAKEN UP AND OUT AND THEN
REINSTALLED AS NEEDED BY
DIFFERENT DAYS AND DIFFERENT
HOURS OF THE DAY. THEY ARE NOT
ABLE TO BE OR POTENTIALLY
DESIGNED TO RETRACT INTO THE
LOWER DOWN INTO THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY. THEY ARE NOT
AVAILABLE TO BE REPURPOSED AND
USED IN OTHER LOCATIONS. IT
WOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL REVENUE,
RESOURCES TO INSTALL DIFFERENT
SIMILAR SYSTEMS IN OTHER
LOCATIONS. WE DON'T HAVE BUDGET
TO DO THAT. IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET BUT WITH ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES WE COULD.
>> THANK YOU. THESE ARE NOT THE
ONES ON WHEELS THAT YOU CAN
STAGE AROUND IN DIFFERENT PARTS
EFFORT CITY.
>> CORRECT.
>> THESE ARE THE ONE THAT SINK
INTO THE GROUND OR YOU HAVE TO
MANUALLY MOVE AROUND.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> IF WE WANTED TO CREATE THESE
PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES FOR THESE
OTHER MARKETS WE WOULD HAVE TO
FIND FUNDING SOMEWHERE?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.. LAST
SLIDE, 25, THE MOST IMPORTANT
QUESTION HERE REGARDING THE
HOMELESS. I NOTE WE HAVE $25
MILLION. ALWAYS THE LARGEST
SUPPORT EVER THE REGIONAL
HOMELESS CATEGORY. I WILL MAKE
IT CLEAR THAT I THINK A REGIONAL
APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HOMELESS
IS ABSOLUTELY THE ONLY AND THE
BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CAN NOT CONTINUE
TO BE THE LARGEST FINANCIAL AND
LAND PROVIDER. WE ARE PROVIDING
THE FINANCING TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDING THE
LAND IN WHICH SHELTERS AND
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING? WE
ARE DOING, FOR THE COUNTY, BOTH
SIDES OF THE COIN. I KNOW THAT
THE MAYOR RAISED THE QUESTION IN
RECENT WEEKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS NEED TO
COME TO THE TABLE AS PARTNERS
WITH THEIR OWN FINANCIAL
INVESTMENT OR IDENTIFY THE LAND
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO TAKE ON
THE SHELTER OR THE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. I GUESS MY
QUESTION TODAY IS, IF THEY
DON'T COME TO THE TABLE, WHAT
ARE -- WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE
$125 MILLION?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. ONE
I CAN NOT GIVE YOU A FULL ANSWER
ON. I KNOW THE MAYOR ECHOES THE
CONCERNS THAT YOU JUST EXPRESSED
AND IT IS, IT IS WORKING WITH
OTHER MEMBERS EFFORT GOVERNING
BOARD, CHALLENGED THEM TO COME
TO THE TABLE WITH THEIR OWN
RESOURCES OR LAND. TO SHARE IN
THE REGIONAL APPROACH TO
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS. AND, WE
WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THERE ARE
UP COMING MEETINGS, I BELIEVE,
AS SOON AS FRIDAY OF THE
GOVERNING BOARD TO PROVIDE INPUT
AND FEEDBACK TO THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL AND CHALLENGE? TO THE
CITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
AND WHO HE WANTS TO BE MORE
INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING THE
PROBLEM. I CAN'T SAY WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE
DON'T YET HAVE RESPONSES FOR
WHAT MUNICIPALITIES WILL STEP
UP.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. I SAY
THIS SITUATION FEELS SO SIMILAR
TO WHAT WE EXPERIENCE,
OFTENTIMES, IN OLYMPIA. WHERE,
CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM EASTERN
WASHINGTON, EAST OF THE CASCADES
WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT WESTERN
WASHINGTON, THIS, THAT OR THE
OTHER WHILE THEY RELY ON THE TAX
DOLLARS THAT WE GENERATE IN
WESTERN WASHINGTON. MUCH LIKE
THE OTHER 38 CITIES AND TOWNS
ARE BENEFITING FROM THE
INVESTMENTS THE CITY OF SEATTLE
ARE MAKING TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS. I THINK YOU ARE
GETTING MY POINT. MY PATIENCE IS
FRIED. IT IS FRAYED. AND IT IS
AT THIS POINT WE NEED OUR
REGIONAL PARTNERS TO STEP UP
WITH FINANCING OR WITH LAND TO
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING TO THAT. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO JUST NOTING HERE WITH
THANK YOU FOR THE 155 NEW UNITS
OF SHELTER. THESE UNITS OF
SHELTER, THEIR EFFECTIVENESS
RATE IS BASED ON HOW QUICKLY WE
CAN GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.
THERE IS WHY I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT WE SHOULD BE USING HOUSING
MONEY FOR SHELTER. BECAUSE IT
UNDER CUTS THE ABILITY TO GET
PEOPLE OUT OF SHELTER. IF WE
HAVE BEEN IN 2019 TODAY WHERE WE
WERE STILL USING CONGREGATE
SHELTER. NOT THE ENHANCED WHERE
YOU CAN COME AND GO AND HAVE A
PET, PARTNER AND POSSESSIONS,
THAT IS A CHANGE FROM 2019. IF
WE WERE STILL USING THAT I WOULD
HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH
THIS. I AM GRATEFUL IN THE LAST
SIX YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN HOW
WE ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND
SOMETHING THAT I HEARD IN THE
NATION SUMMIT LAST WEEK WAS THE
NEED FOR PEOPLE TO TRANSITION
FROM THE STREETS TO A SAFE
PLACE. AND THAT OFTENTIMES IT
REQUIRES A STAY IN SHELTER SO
THEY CAN BETTER BE PREPARED TO
BE IN A PERMANENT HOUSING
SITUATION THAT MAY OR MAY NOT
HAVE SUPPORT. AND, SHELTER THE
RIGHT CULTURALLY RIGHT
APPROPRIATE SHELTER, THE RIGHT
SHELTER BASED ON THE NEEDS OF
THE INDIVIDUAL IF IT IS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH
OR THE COMBINATION IS HOW WE
FIND SUCCESS IN GETTING PEOPLE
INTO HOUSING IN A STABLE WAY.
THAT WAS NOT A QUESTION. THAT
WAS JUST GRATITUDE FOR FUNDING
THESE THREE ADDITIONAL SHELTER.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR HEARING
MY TAKE ON THIS BUDGET. ANY
QUESTIONS? I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA YOU STILL HAVE YOUR HAND.
>> MAY I?
>> PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. A COUPLE
MORE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AS I
AM LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES.
ONE IS CHAIR, I THINK, WE ALL
AGREE WE NEED MORE HOUSING,
UNACCEPTABLE FOR PEOPLE LIVING
ON THE STREETS AND THAT IS WHY
WE ALL AGREE WE NEED MORE
SHELTER TO GET PEOPLE IN FROM
THE OUTDOOR AND WE HAVE LIMITED
RESOURCES WHEN I AM ASKING ABOUT
THE HOUSING DOLLARS TO ME,
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THE STREET
AND INTO SOME TYPE OF SHELTER
SOMEWHERE THEY CAN BE IN DOORS
AND SAFE IT IS WHY I AM ASKING
ABOUT THAT. AND TO ME I DON'T
THINK THAT IT IS IN CONGRESS
WITH OUR GOALS TO HAVE MORE
HOUSING FOR EVERYONE THAT NEEDS
IT. THAT IS ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL
THAT WE CAN NOT MEET TODAY. SO,
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT AND I
WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR WHY I WAS
ASKING THAT QUESTION. AND THEN,
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT I DON'T
ALWAYS, I THINK, AS THE LATINA
IN ME ALWAYS SAY THE THINGS THAT
I DO, BUT I DID PUT THE IN THE
GRANT AND REFUGEE WHAT WE NEED
TO DO FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND IN
OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN SEATTLE
IN. IN THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
BECAUSE I VERY MUCH DO CARE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A SHOUT
OUT THERE? AND THERE IS WHY I AM
ALSO ASKING ABOUT THIS LEGAL
DEFENSE PIECE BECAUSE I AM NOT
CLEAR WHERE WE ARE GETTING THIS
HOW MUCH DO WE NEED MORE, SHOULD
WE HAVE PUT MORE RESOURCES TO
THAT VERSUS SOMETHING ELSE? I AM
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PASSING
THIS TO MEET THIS FEDERAL NEED
AND I AM NOT CLEAR WHAT THE
FEDERAL NEED IS. AND I DON'T
WANT TO BE MAKING DECISIONS
ABOUT SOMETHING WITHOUT KNOWING
WHAT THAT NEED IS? SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO GETTING MORE DETAILS
ABOUT THAT FROM YOU DIRECTOR
EDER AND FROM OUR PARTNERS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, THEN, I
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FUND
FLOPS. IF THERE WERE ANY FUND
FLOPS IN THE BUDGET AND IF SO,
WHAT WERE THEY. WHICH I KNOW YOU
PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
ANSWER NOW UNLESS YOU CAN? THAT
IS GREAT.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TIMES
AND WAYS WE RELY ON DIFFERENT
FUNDS TO HELP RELIEVE THE
GENERAL FUND. WE WILL WORK ON
THAT IN SOME OF THE
PRESENTATIONS TO COME AND WE
WILL BE IDENTIFYING THOSE FOR
CENTRAL STAFF WHO, IN TURN, CAN
PROVIDE YOU WITH THE
INFORMATION. BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS
NARROW AND DIRECT QUESTIONS,
BUT, I SENSE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
A BIGGER PICTURE PERSPECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, YES. AND
ALSO, ALSO, DETAILS ARE
IMPORTANT, THANK YOU FOR
ANSWERING THAT ONE FOR MORE
DETAILS LATER. AND THEN, ON PAGE
24. GOING BACK TO WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE RAISED IN TERMS OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD
RENEWAL, YOU KNOW, THAT WORK,
THAT CLEANUP WORK AND OTHER SUCH
WORK, THE $4 MILLION AND YOU
CONFIRM PIONEER SQUARE IS THERE
. I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT,
FOR UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. SINCE
IT WAS RAISED TODAY I WANT TO
MAKE SURE CONSTITUENTS KNOW I
HAVE THE EYE ON THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT AND IT IS AN AREA OF
NEED. I WILL SAY OUR BIRA DOES A
LOT OF WORK. THEY HAD AN OUT
REACH PERSON THAT WAS IN HOUSE
AT HSD AND QUESTIONS IF THAT
OUTREACH PERSON WILL RETURN TO
THE BIA BECAUSE I THINK THAT
THEN ENABLES THEM TO DO A LOT OF
THE WORK IN THE DISTRICT. WE
HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES, AS YOU
KNOW, IN THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS?
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT
DOING MORE WITH MORE FUNDS. THAT
IS ALWAYS TRUE AND WHAT THE
FUNDS WE DO HAVE WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO NEEDS
SOME SUPPORT CAN GET SOME
SUPPORT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IS IN THERE AS WELL. TRUE
ABOUT THE FOOD BANKS. WE HAVE A
FOOD BANK IN THE U-DISTRICT THAT
SUPPORTS LOW INCOME FAMILIES,
PARTICULARLY AT THE PARK, A
CONTINUING ISSUE FOR THE
FAMILIES. MY CONSTITUENTS THERE,
THERE IS A FOOD DESERT THERE.
THE FOOD BANK DOES A LOT OF WORK
TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES. THEY
CAN DO WHAT THEY CAN DO AND SO I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE ARE
SUPPORTING FOOD BANKS AT THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT FOOD BANK IS
ALSO A PART OF THAT EFFORT.
THEN, I HAVE, IS ONE LAST
QUESTION ON PAGE 22 IN TERMS OF
CARE. THERE WAS A $15 MILLION --
FOR SUPPORTING ONGOING
OPERATIONS I KNOWN KNOW WHAT
THAT MEANS, DIRECTOR EDER, CAN
YOU EXPAND ON THAT PLEASE?
>> SURE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES
TAX CAN ONLY -- IT IS NOT A
GENERAL GOVERNMENT TOTALLY
FLEXIBLE USE. ONLY ON PUBLIC
SAFETY NEEDS. WE NEED IT TO
IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE
SPENDING THAT MONEY SO THAT IT
IS CLEAR IT IS FOR AN ALLOWABLE
USE. WE DO HAVE OTHER THE BULK
OF THE CITY'S SHARE OF THE
SALES AND USE TAX IT IS A
GENERAL GOVERNMENT PURPOSE. WE
CAN USE IT FOR ANYTHING THE
GENERAL FUND CAN SUPPORT.
COMPARING AND CONTRASTING WHAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE. WE
HAVE IDENTIFY SOME EMERGING
NEEDS PARTICULARLY IN THE CARE
DEPARTMENT. AS I SHOW ON THE
SLIDE TO EXPAND THE EXISTING
STAFFING AND COVERAGE HOURS FOR
THE CRISIS CARE RESPONDERS AND
EXPAND THE CALL STAFFING. WE ARE
PUTTING $15 MILLION OF THE
PROCEEDS FROM THE $39 MILLION
PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX INTO THE
CARE DEPARTMENT. THE CARE
DEPARTMENT WAS OTHERWISE FUNDED
WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS WHICH
AS WE SAW IN APRIL AND AUGUST
HAVE GONE UP. AND HAVE GONE
DOWN. THERE IS A DEDICATED
PURPOSE. COME WHAT MAY, THEY
WILL GET LEVEL OF FUNDING OF $15
MILLION AS LONG AS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SALES TAX CONTINUES TO
BRING IN $39 MILLION. THAT FREES
UP RESOURCES TO BE USED FOR
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSES
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
POLICE OFFICER SALARIES AS I
MENTIONED $39 MILLION OF
UNANTICIPATED COST FOR
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS.
>> SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FUND
SWAPS IN OTHER WORDS?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
>> YES.
>> FOR CLARITY. THERE IS NO --
ON THESE DOLLARS. SO, THE FULL
$39 MILLION COULD BE DEPLOYED TO
CLOSE THE DEFICIT. TO FUND
EXISTING SERVICES WHICH IS AS
SOON AS 2027 THEY ARE NOT
IDENTIFIED RESOURCES, A PORTION
IS BEING USED THAT WAY AND A
PORTION WILL EXPAND THE IT.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE.
AND THEN DIRECTOR EDER CAN YOU
TELL ME SO, LAST YEAR FOR, FOR
THE CURRENT YEAR WE EXPANDED
CARE TO 24, I THINK THERE WERE
SIX FOLKS BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW
HOW WELL THAT EXPANSION IS
GOING. I KNOW THERE ARE ISSUES
UNDER LYING ALL OF THAT. NEVER
THE LESS WE ARE NOT DONE WITH
THIS FULL YEAR. AND THEN NOW,
THE PROPOSAL IN THIS BUDGET IS
TO GO FROM 24 TO 48. ANOTHER,
YOU KNOW, TWICE ANOTHER
EXPANSION AND I HAVE NOT SEEN
ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORK
THAT CARE IS DOING THAT WARRANTS
THE EXPANSION RIGHT NOW AT THIS
POINT. TO 48 IN 2026. NOT SURE
IF WE HAVE DATA GIVEN THE FULL
YEAR OF THIS EXPANSION IS NOT
OVER YET. WE STILL HAVE A
QUARTER OF THIS YEAR LEFT. I
HAVE NOT SEEN INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW WELL THIS IS WORKING TO
JUSTIFY, THEN, THIS LARGE
EXPANSION INTO NEXT YEAR. SO,
DID YOU CONSIDER WAITING UNTIL,
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WELL THIS
WAS WORKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
BEFORE YOU PROPOSED THIS? AND
THEN ALSO I AM NOT CLEAR WHAT
THESE FOLKS, TO BE TOTALLY
HONEST AND TRANSPARENT AND I
KNOW THE CARE FOLKS ARE GOOD
PEOPLE, THERE IS NOT A JUDGMENT
ON ANYONE THAT IS WORKING AT
CARE, BUT, HEALTH 99 IS, YOU
KNOW, WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE
DOING, WE HAVE THE DATA TO
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION. AS
PROPOSED HERE, I APPRECIATE
THAT. THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE
TRAINED, THEY ARE ALL TRAINED IN
THE SAME WAY. AND I AM NOT SURE
WHY, AND I SAID THIS LAST YEAR,
THERE SAY REITERATION, BUT WHY
WE DID NOT JUST RATHER THAN
ESTABLISH A NEW DEPARTMENT WHY
WE DIDN'T DO MORE OF HEALTH 99
ACROSS THE CITY AND HEALTH ONE
FOR THAT MATTER? WE DID NOT DO
THAT. WE DECIDED INSTEAD TO
CREATE A WHOLE ANOTHER
DEPARTMENT AND TEAM OF PEOPLE.
NOW WE ARE EXPANDING BOTH,
HEALTH 99 AND ANOTHER TEAM OF
PEOPLE. AGAIN, I AM SUPPER
SUPPORTIVE OF THE HEALTH 99. WE
KNOW WE PLEAD IT AND DATA TO
SUPPORT WHY? -- WE KNOW WE NEED
IT AND DATA TO SUPPORT WHY BUT I
HAVE NOT SEEN IT ON CARE.
>> I THINK THIS AFTERNOON WHEN
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S
STAFF IS HERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO
TALK MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
AND WE THINK THAT THE GOOD
RESULTS THAT HAVE COME FROM THE
INVESTMENT THUS FAR IN CARE AND
WHAT THE ADDITIONAL MONEY AND
STAFFING WILL BE EXPECTED TO
DELIVER IN THE NEW YEAR. WITH
YOUR PERMISSION I DEFER IT.
>> YES, THAT IS FINE. I KNOW
THEY HAD A PRESENTATION. I JUST
WANTED TO KNOW FROM YOU AS WELL
SOME OF THE THOUGHTS BEHIND IN
TERMS EFFORT OF THE BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY MORE
QUESTIONS. WE OVER INDEXED FOR
PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS MORNING
THAT IS WHY WE CREATED SO MUCH
TIME. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS WE CAN BREAK A LITTLE
EARLY FOR LUNCH, WE WILL STILL
RETURN AT 2:00 P.M. BUT, JUST AS
A WRAPPING UP OF THIS
CONVERSATION DIRECTOR EDER, I
GUESS AND TO THE BODY, AS
NORMAL, WE RECEIVED THIS BUDGET
TWO DAYS AGO. WE ARE DIGGING
THROUGH IT NOW. THAT IS WHY
CENTRAL STAFF IS SO FOCUSED AND
AVAILABLE. WE HAVE PAPER COPIES,
ELECTRIC COPIES, AND, THIS POINT
IN THE ANNUAL BUDGETING PROCESS
WHERE IT GOES FROM DEPARTMENTS
TO THE MAYOR TO US, WHERE
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE THE
PREROGATIVE TO INCREASE OR
REDUCE PROGRAMS, BE REFLECTIVE
AND RESPONSIVE. I AM HEARING
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ABOUT YOUR
CONCERN OF THE CARE DEPARTMENT.
I WILL STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT
I BELIEVE THE CARE DEPARTMENT IS
A NECESSARY PART OF OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY
RESPONSE. AND, SO, THIS IS PART
OF THAT CONVERSATION THAT WE
WILL GO THROUGH. AND, I JUST
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR
ATTENTION THIS MORNING. WE WILL
COME BACK AT 2:00 P.M. TODAY. AS
IT IS 11:57, FOR EVERYONE
WATCHING SEATTLE CHANNEL IN
REALTIME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES
UNTIL THE MARINERS TICKETS GO ON
SALE FOR GENERAL SALE FOR THE
PLAYOFFS.
>> THREE WHAT?
>> MINUTES.
>> LET'S REFUSE TO MOVE.
>> YOU ARE INVITING THE
COMPETITION.
>> MOST PEOPLE WATCH IT ON
REPLAY. WITH THAT, LET'S GO,
MARINERS. THANK YOU, DAN WILSON,
AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE TEAM.
>> AND, AS COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH SAYS, IT IS