As previewed last night, the next major milestone in the City Council’s process of finalizing the next city budget has arrived today: Budget chair Councilmember Dan Strauss has announced which proposed changes are in his “balancing package,” which the council will discuss tomorrow, one day before their all-day/night public hearing.
More than a dozen of District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka‘s original 20 proposed changes (amendments) are in the balancing package, some at reduced levels. Here’s the full list of what’s in the balancing package. Below are the Saka proposals on the list, with their official designations (GF = general fund):
ARTS-006-B Increase ARTS by $235,000 GF (2027) and $235,000 GF (2028) for a Delridge art wall pilot and impose a proviso
SDOT-003-B Increase SDOT by $7 million GF (2027) one-time for the District Project Fund CIP Project
SFD-004S-A Request that the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) report on its firefighter recruitment, hiring, and training practices, including local and regional comparisons
SPR-002-B Increase SPR by $100,000 GF (2027) one-time for improvements at Roxhill Park
SPR-005-D Increase SPR by $125,000 GF (2027) and $125,000 GF (2028) one-time for recreational programming at Alki Community Center and increase SDOT $210,000 GF (2027) onetime for public realm improvements in Alki
SPR-006-D Increase SPR by $125,000 GF (2027) and $125,000 GF (2028) one-time for expanded community-center hours and programming at South Park Community Center and increase SDOT by $210,000 GF (2027) one-time for public realm improvements in South Park
ARTS-008-B Increase ARTS by $55,000 GF (2027) one-time for art instruction programs in West Seattle
DON-004-B Increase DON by $125,000 GF (2027) one-time and $125,000 GF (2028) one-time for community safety coordination in SODO
HSD-021-B Increase HSD by $250,000 GF (2028) one-time for an operational and funding plan for a veterans’ shelter and service campus in West Seattle
HSD-022S-B Request that HSD provide a report with an implementation roadmap for the siting and establishment of a veterans’ shelter and service campus in West Seattle
HSD-040-B Increase HSD by $750,000 GF (2027) one-time and $776,250 GF (2028) one-time to expand services at City-funded senior centers
OED-001-C Increase OED by $475,000 GF (2027) one-time and $500,000 GF (2028) one-time for
cleaning and targeted physical improvements in West Seattle business districtsOED-003-B Increase OED by $100,000 GF (2027) one-time for commercial tenant attraction in Pioneer Square
OED-016-A Increase OED by $200,000 GF (2027) for sports events promotion
The most notable Saka amendments that didn’t get into the balancing package were funding for more pothole repairs and money to study how to bring a supermarket to North Delridge. Also of note, the “district project fund” is in the package for one year, not two.
Inclusion in the balancing package is no guarantee a proposal will be in the final plan; on the other side, a proposal not included may still get into the plan before a final vote. Here’s how Councilmember Strauss’s announcement of the balancing package summarizes what’s next:
The Select Budget Committee will meet tomorrow, Nov. 4, at 9:30 a.m. to present and discuss the Balancing Package. On Thursday, Nov. 5, the Budget Committee will host a public hearing where members public can weigh in. Remote public comment will begin at 1 p.m., and in-person public comment will begin at 5 p.m.
Over the next week, councilmembers will review the Balancing Package and propose amendments, before voting begins in committee on Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m.
You can find agendas here, including the one for Thursday’s hearing, explaining how to sign up to speak. Other ways to comment are here.