Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) highlighted today a slate of her priority amendments that have been included in the Council’s recently proposed budget balancing package. The amendments represent critical investments in economic opportunity, community safety, youth development, and cultural vitality across Seattle. Key items incorporated into the proposal include: “These initial budget milestones are...
Category: Budget
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Summary of Chair Dan Strauss’ 2026 Balancing Package
Seattle City Council Budget Chair Dan Strauss (District 6) released his Balancing Package on November 4, 2025 with a focus on making Seattle work better for working families. It focuses on affordability, homelessness, public safety, building community, and fiscal responsibility. What is the Balancing Package? The Balancing Package is put together each year by the...
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Councilmember Rinck and transit leaders announce ‘Better Bus Lanes’ campaign
Coalition-backed initiative seeks to advance safety improvements and reliable transit Earlier today, City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) announced the “Better Bus Lanes” Campaign on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, in response to a Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) proposal last month to remove a block of bus lane on East Union Street that serves the...
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Council President Nelson statement on city’s updated revenue forecast
Earlier today Seattle city officials were briefed on the updated economic and revenue forecast for October. In response to more optimistic updated numbers, including an estimated $14.6 million in additional revenue in 2026 compared to the August forecast, Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) released the following statement: “Based on today’s revenue forecast briefing,...
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Council President statement on mayor’s proposed 2026 Budget
City Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) released this statement following the mayor’s announcement of his 2026 Budget proposal earlier today. This is my fourth budget on the City Council and every year my approach is driven by the most urgent needs our constituents are experiencing in their daily lives – on the street, in...
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Councilmember Strauss kicks off budget deliberations with focus on working families
The Seattle City Council’s budget process is now underway. Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6), chair of the Council’s Budget Committee, released the following statement after Mayor Bruce Harrell announced his budget proposal today. “We need a safer, more affordable city where working families can thrive. As the federal government rolls back social services and pursues...
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Council approves Business & Occupation (B&O) Tax rebalancing proposal for November ballot
‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ aimed at addressing City budget deficit, ensuring funding for emergency shelters and homelessness prevention, supporting food access, addressing gender-based violence, and aiding small business and worker’s rights This afternoon, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved sending the ‘Seattle Shield Initiative’ to the November 2025 ballot for voter consideration. The legislation proposes cuts...
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Mayor Harrell and Councilmember Rinck announce proposal to reduce taxes for small businesses and raise new revenue to protect essential human services from Trump threats
‘Seattle Shield’ proposal: 90% of Seattle businesses paying B&O tax would no longer pay the tax or see tax reductions Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8, Citywide) announced a new proposal to lower city taxes for approximately 90% of Seattle businesses that currently pay the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax...
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Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck addresses City’s $244 million budget shortfall, calls for serious look at new revenue solutions
This morning, the Seattle City Council’s Finance, Native Communities & Tribal Governments Committee received a joint presentation on the April 2025 Revenue Forecast from the Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts and the City Budget Office. In the briefing, City officials discussed the pessimistic financial scenario which projects a $102 million shortfall within the current...
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Councilmember Moore Announces District 5 budget wins for public safety, housing and human services
Councilmember Cathy Moore (District 5) released the following statement after the City Council adopted the 2025-26 City of Seattle budget, and endorsed the 2026 budget: “Affordable housing, public safety, human services and addressing homelessness are critically important to District 5 residents and Seattle as a whole,” said Councilmember Moore. “As the District 5 councilmember, I zealously advocated for...