Seattle (November 19, 2018) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan celebrated the City Council’s 8-1 passage of her proposed 2019-2020 budget and issued the following statement:
“I am pleased that we have a balanced budget plan that reflects our values and sets a guide for our work in the upcoming year – a year when we must act urgently to seize opportunities to create a more affordable, just, and vibrant future.
“I am especially grateful to Councilmember Sally Bagshaw for her tireless work as Chair of the Select Budget Committee and for leading her colleagues to evaluate and approve this budget – all while ensuring that the community’s voice was heard throughout the process.
“When I ran for mayor and when I took office, I made a promise to Seattle: That I would act urgently to make sure we use our resources wisely and build a city that centers community, looks to the future, and continues to lead on creating opportunity.
“The goals of inclusion and economic opportunity have guided us for these past 12 months, and this approved budget invests in these promises and commitments and shows we can live within our means. 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 inclusive Seattle with true economic opportunity.
“Now, our hard work continues. Using this budget as our guide, we must continue to be stewards of taxpayer dollars and invest in a more affordable, inclusive and vibrant future for all who call Seattle home.”