Seattle (September 24) – At Fire Station 10, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan unveiled her proposed 2019-2020 budget. Her budget plan reflects the values and priorities that she focused on as Mayor including focusing on the basics, like public safety, transportation, and water; addressing our crisis of affordability, housing, and homelessness; standing up for what’s right – for inclusion and equity and our most vulnerable neighbors; and investing in building a city of the future – one that is more welcoming, innovative, and vibrant.
“When I ran for mayor and when I took office, I made a promise to Seattle: That I would act with urgency to address our shared challenges, and that I would work hard to make sure we always provide the greatest public benefit possible from our work, our resources, and how we spend the taxpayers’ money. From giving Seattle’s young people free ORCA and a passport to their city to urgent action on homelessness to protecting our immigrant and refugee neighbors, we’re continuing to build a more affordable, inclusive, and vibrant Seattle,” said Mayor Durkan. “Those values have guided us for these past nine months, and this budget invests in those promises and those commitments.”
The 2019-2020 proposed budget is balanced, totaling $5.9 billion, and is a sustainable budget that reprioritizes City spending. The budget reflects $49 million in savings that Mayor Durkan identified during the budget process, including through vacancies and efficiencies at departments.
The 2019 budget includes:
- $2.6 billion for utility services like power, clean drinking water, garbage and recycling at Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities;
- $695 million for public safety, including new police officers and new fire recruits;
- $609 million for transit and transportation investments; and
- $89.5 million for homelessness across all departments without raising new taxes.
You can learn about Mayor Durkan’s budget here as well as an overview of key investments here:
- Budget Overview
- Commitment to Public Safety
- Addressing our Homelessness and Housing Crisis
- Investing in Transit and Seattle’s Transportation System
- Building a More Equitable, Inclusive Seattle
- Investing in the City of the Future
Mayor Durkan’s full detailed proposed budget is available here.
###