Harrell's proposed budget might lead to permanent defunding of affordable housing
Seattle News:
The big news this week is Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed 2025-2026 budget. Here is an overview from the Budget Director of the proposed budget, along with a list of summary and related articles:
Harrell Swipes Affordable Housing Dollars to Backfill Budget, Reduce Service Cuts
Seattle Mayor staves off deep cuts in $8.3B 2025 budget proposal
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell unveils 2025 budget plan at City Hall
Mayor Harrell Sacrifices $200 Million of Affordable Housing Rather Than Taxing the Rich
As Budget Cuts Loom, Mayor’s Staff Ballooned, Thanks to Workers On “Loan” From Other Departments
In the proposed budget, Harrell moved MORE than the amount of the deficit from the Jumpstart tax fund to cover that deficit. (For those who want figures, he’s transferring $287 million from Jumpstart to the General Fund, and his Budget Director is now saying the deficit for 2025 is around $250 million.)
This means significantly LESS money for affordable housing, the Green New Deal, small business support, and the Equitable Development Initiative, which Jumpstart is supposed to fund.
He also cut many programs and 159 positions, 76 of which are currently filled. This means 76 layoffs.
Through a combination of defunding affordable housing and other Jumpstart prioritizing, cutting city programs, and planning for layoffs, he was able to fund some new priorities in the proposed budget, many of which center around public safety.
SPD’s budget is increasing by 16%, or $62 million, in 2025, standing at $457 million. It now constitutes 26% of the entire General Fund. The department’s “ghost cop” positions are maintained, and 30 more civilian positions are added, including 7 new civilian investigators, 2 new special parking enforcement officer positions, and 21 new Real Time Crime Center analysts, 12 to begin in 2025 and the remainder to begin in 2026.
SPD emphasis patrols in the new SODA and SOAP zones will receive an additional $10 million. Almost $4 million are allocated for the surveillance technology pilot that includes RTCC software and CCTV cameras, compared to $1.5 million allocated for this purpose in the 2024 budget.
Seattle will be spending almost $3 million for beds at the SCORE jail in Des Moines, as well as an additional $2 million for more beds in the King County Jail.
The Unified Care Team that performs the city’s encampment sweeps will be receiving an additional $3.19 million and will be conducting sweeps on weekends.
There will also be legislation transmitted to the council to make permanent the city’s ability to use the Jumpstart payroll tax funds to pay for General Fund priorities however it chooses. Were this change to be made permanent, in future years it could lead to even further defunding of affordable housing, Green New Deal, small business support, and the Equitable Development Initiative.
The next opportunity to give public comment on the budget is on Wednesday, October 16 starting at 5pm. Budget Chair Dan Strauss has said everyone planning to speak at that particular hearing will receive two minutes to speak. (During most of the public comment periods, if there are enough speakers present, time will be cut to one minute or even 30 seconds.)
If you want a break from thinking about the budget, you can read my article on the new surveillance technology approved by the public safety committee this week. A final vote on the new technologies–CCTV cameras and RTCC software–is expected on Tuesday, October 8 at 2pm.
Other News:
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the county’s proposed budget this week. Some investments include:
$7.9 million to maintain the Regional Peacekeepers Collective’s work to prevent gun violence
$2.3 million for 13 new juvenile detention officers at the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center, otherwise known as the youth jail; two new juvenile probation counselors; and additional community programs and transition navigators for youth in and exiting detention
$1.725 million for installing “jump barriers” and replacing bunks at the King County Jail to make it harder to commit suicide
$56 million to support affordable housing projects within a half mile of a transit station
Marcus Harrison Green wrote (his first?) column at The Stranger in defense of closing the youth jail. Here’s a little taste:
“Instead of blaming a strategy to diminish incarceration that has not been fully implemented, fully funded, or fully committed to, you'd think he and other King County Council Members might be the first to admonish and blame our current system, which is still heavily focused on a carceral approach that has resulted in a 61% rise in juvenile bookings last year, and the same percentage rise in bookings so far this year—returning us to the incarceration levels of 2019.”
Tacoma’s police chief was suddenly placed on leave earlier this week, and in a bizarre turn, the city is refusing to answer any questions about it.
Recent Headlines:
Income inequality grew in Seattle since the pandemic, new data shows
Seattle Animal Shelter director resigns, alleging city inaction
Judge Dismisses Sheriff’s Lawsuit Over Burien’s Homelessness Policy
Council Committee Approves 24/7 Police Surveillance of Neighborhoods Across the City
King County Auditor’s Report on High-Risk Issues Includes Concerns for Adult and Juvenile Detention