Seattle Finance Committee Approves 2025 Exceptions and 2026 Carry Forward Ordinances on June 16, 2026
Seattle Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee Meeting – June 16, 2026
The Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee met on June 16, 2026, at 9:30 AM in the Council Chamber at Seattle City Hall. Chaired by Councilmember Dan Strauss, the committee considered two routine budget ordinances: the 2025 Budget Exceptions Ordinance (CB 121208) and the 2026 Carry Forward Ordinance (CB 121209). Both bills were briefed, discussed, and passed unanimously (5-0) after a single public comment. The meeting adjourned at 9:54 AM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Haynes (in-person speaker) criticized the city's budget policies, alleging that funds originate from past mayoral administrations he described as the "three worst mayors in the history of Seattle." He argued that one-time grant money was baked into the budget, that policies have exacerbated public safety and homelessness crises, and that human services are "run interference for criminals." He called for more transparency from Budget Director Aly Pennucci.
Discussion Items
- 2025 Budget Exceptions Ordinance (CB 121208): Aly Pennucci, Director of the City Budget Office, presented the ordinance, which provides retroactive budget authority for $8.1 million in overspending by six departments in 2025. Examples included higher-than-expected medical claims in the Seattle Department of Human Resources ($5 million) and higher utility tax revenues for Seattle City Light ($2 million). Councilmember Maritza Rivera asked for more details on the medical claims; Pennucci offered to follow up. Chair Strauss asked about the trend of exceptions; Edin Sisic (Council Central Staff) noted this was the third smallest exceptions total since 2018, trending downward.
- 2026 Carry Forward Ordinance (CB 121209): Pennucci explained that $138 million in unspent 2025 appropriations would be carried forward into 2026. Major items included $16 million from the General Fund, $79 million from the JumpStart Payroll Expense Tax (e.g., Equitable Development Initiative awards, Office of Housing multifamily projects), $2 million for Parks Department participatory budgeting for public restroom access, and $17.5 million for judgment and claims. Chair Strauss asked about specific projects (Youth Care South Annex redevelopment, public restrooms); Pennucci clarified these are capital projects where commitments were made but funds not yet expended. Councilmember Robert Kettle raised concerns about rising judgment and claims costs, noting a recent $80 million state judgment and a trend of increasing liabilities. Pennucci acknowledged the risk and said she would provide a more detailed briefing at the July mid-year supplemental.
- Chair’s Preview: Chair Strauss noted that the July mid-year supplemental would be more challenging due to a structural budget deficit and the need to balance a two-year budget for the first time in several years. He indicated he would limit new spending amendments.
Key Outcomes
- CB 121208 (2025 Exceptions Ordinance) – Passed unanimously (5-0: Strauss, Rivera, Hollingsworth, Kettle, Saka). The committee recommended passage to the full City Council.
- CB 121209 (2026 Carry Forward Ordinance) – Passed unanimously (5-0). The committee recommended passage to the full City Council.
- Next Steps: The full City Council will consider both bills. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for July 7, 2026, where the mid-year supplemental budget and tribal summit progress will be discussed.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The June 16th, 2026, Finance Native Communities and Tribal Governments Committee meeting will come to order. It is 9 30 a.m. I'm Dan Strauss, Chair of the Committee. Councilmember Rivera and Hollingsworth are excused until they arrive. Will the clerk please call the roll? Councilmember Kettle. Here. Call Rivera. Councilmember Saka. Here. Vice Chair Rivera. Present. Chair Strauss. Here. For present. Thank you. We have two items on. We have everyone present except for Council Member Hollingsworth, who is excused until she arrives. We have two items on the agenda today. We have the 2025 Exceptions Ordinance and the 2026 carry forward ordinance. Both for briefing discussion and possible vote. There is no objection, the agenda will be adopted. Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted. And just for reference, both of these items have been briefed in committee before. We will at this time now open the hybrid public comment period. Public comments should relate to items on today's agenda. We have one person signed up. And with one person signed up, the public comment period will be moderated in the following manner. Period is up to 60 minutes. Speakers will be called in order in which they registered. We'll begin with in-person speakers. People speakers will have two minutes and we'll hear a chime when 10 seconds are remaining in their time. Speakers' microphones will be muted at the end of that two minutes. Public comment period is now open. We have David Haynes here. Good morning, Mr. Haynes. Welcome. Good morning, Council. Thank you. David Haynes. Everything that's in the budget originates from the three worst mayors in the history of Seattle. Some of the worst politicians and ideas who took one time grant money and baked it into the budget that was tainted in racisms and defund police, shift the paradigm away from improving the war on drug pushers and pimps and practically legalized drugs under the 3.5 grams, misconstruing what constitutes a criminal. As if we have George Soros dictating the pilot project of lead. Yet I want to know, and a lot of other people want to know exactly what is council doing today when it comes to all the money that you didn't spend that's still going to be reiterated or spent on bad policies that are exacerbating the public safety crisis, the homeless crisis. It's like if you're paying people to run interference for repeat offenders that are running interference or that are connected to the criminal underworld, you're exacerbating the crisis for the cops. You're making it still unsafe in a living hell while catering to all these businesses who just want their doorsteps swept while your all's like failures to respond properly within the budget with policies that are undermining the integrity of crime fighting and public safety and the homeless crisis. It's like you all are putting repeat offending junkie thieves with no accountability or requirement to break their addiction like in an authorized encampment where they're fully focused as opposed to just giving them big pharma Medicaid gouging drugs and have some case manager help them get IDs so they can get more money so they can be charged more rent in the same nonprofit who's manipulating their own statistics to dictate a perception of success. And you know, it's like how much money has not been spent on proper policies that still need to be dealt with.
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