Mayor Katie Wilson proposes $9.1B Seattle budget with public safety boost, no new taxes

Key Points:

• Mayor Katie Wilson proposes a $9.1 billion two-year Seattle city budget for 2027–28, prioritizing public safety with a 13% increase to about $1.135 billion, including a $68 million boost to the Seattle Police Department budget to fund 1,250 officer positions, without raising new taxes.
• The budget aims to close a projected general fund gap through $90 million in spending cuts and transfers, higher-than-expected revenue forecasts, and a $65 million one-time transfer from the Office of Housing, while preserving core services and avoiding reserve fund use.
• Public safety receives 53% of the general fund's roughly $2 billion spending, with additional allocations including $346 million for the Fire Department, $72.6 million for the CARE Department, and $14.8 million for police-accountability offices.
• The proposal includes $500 million for affordable housing, renters, and homelessness services, targeting 1,000 new shelter units by the end of 2027 and maintaining 1,750 units annually, alongside funding for food security, youth programs, and new public restrooms.
• The City Council will review, amend, and adopt the budget's first year, with multiple public hearings planned, offering an alternative to debates focused on new revenue by emphasizing spending adjustments and existing tax revenues.