Seattle City Budget

Sara Nelson Warns She Can Kill Any Transit Project She Wants

A budget amendment put forward by Council President Nelson asks for information on how and when the city creates priority space for buses, citing opposition to Route 40. At a meeting last week, Nelson suggested that if she had wanted to kill a controversial project she already could have done it.
A sign reads Resilient communities on the lectern in the lobby of city hall and people stand behind the speaker holding signs saying a protest JumpStart commitments and invest on Seattle's future.

Amid Budget Showdown, Advocates Mount Defense of JumpStart Housing Funds

On Tuesday, progressive advocates rallied at Seattle City Hall to make a last-ditch defense to reverse a $330 million JumpStart cut that would deplete affordable housing funding. Tuesday was the last public hearing before Council finalizes the budget next week.

Op-Ed: JumpStart Should Remain an Affordable Housing Commitment, Not a Piggybank

JumpStart investments in housing and climate investments must be preserved in future years, despite Mayor Harrell's proposal to siphon $287 million and remove spend plan guardrails.
Tenants hold signs saying "hold bad landlords accountable" and "everyone deserves dignified housing" and "SROC stands against abusive landlords" and "workers rights = renters' rights"

Harrell Proposes Deep Cuts for Tenant Assistance, Advocates Push Back

Housing advocates are pushing back after Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell proposed $1.8 million in cuts to rental assistance and tenant services next year. They hope city council will restore the funding, or even double it.
A half dozen police and a medic team talk to a person in a wheel chair across from Pioneer Square Station. A police cruiser and ambulance are parked along Third Avenue.

Harrell Cuts Social Safety Net to Fund 16% Boost to SPD

Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2025 budget would cut elsewhere to fund a 16% increase to the Seattle Police Department. The cuts to affordable housing and social services could backfire, undermining public safety and homelessness response.

Harrell Officials Downplay Impact of Permitting Staff Cuts

City officials have insisted that the staff cuts for SDCI in next year's budget will not impact permit approval times. Staff are not convinced.

Harrell Swipes Affordable Housing Dollars to Backfill Budget, Reduce Service Cuts

Under the budget for the next two years proposed by Mayor Bruce Harrell, around half of the JumpStart funding originally earmarked for affordable housing and other investments would instead fund Harrell Administration priorities.
McLaren has its butterfly doors up while a half dozen onlookers in yellow vests take picture or admire the car.

Policy Lab: Tax the Filthy, Stinking Rich

Seattle has a $258 million budget deficit to solve. Mayor Bruce Harrell said he rejects notions of austerity. Good for him! I’m here to help. Let’s chart a way out of this crisis that doesn’t involve slashing services and laying off city workers.