Seattle Select Budget Committee Reviews Mayor's 2027-2028 Proposed Budgets for SPD, CARE, SFD – September 25, 2026

The Seattle City Council Select Budget Committee convened on September 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber to hear department overview presentations for the Mayor's proposed 2027 and 2028 budgets. Chaired by Councilmember Dan Strauss, the committee received briefings from three departments: Seattle Police Department (SPD), Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE), and Seattle Fire Department (SFD). Only written public comment was accepted prior to the meeting. The SPD presentation and discussion consumed the entire morning session (9:30 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.), after which the committee recessed for lunch. The afternoon session (1:01 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.) covered CARE and SFD presentations. The committee took no votes; all items were information items.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were presented.

Discussion Items

1. Seattle Police Department (SPD) – Proposed Budget Briefing

• Interim Chief Andre Sayles and Budget Director Dan Eder presented the SPD proposal: a $557 million general fund budget for 2027 (a $66 million increase over 2026), with 95% allocated to staffing and non-discretionary costs. Key elements included:
  • $12.5 million for additional sworn officer costs.
  • $58 million increase from collective bargaining agreements (SPOG, SPMA, SPIOG).
  • Overtime budget of $62 million, funding the same 473,000 hours as 2026 due to higher labor costs.
  • Staffing plan funds 1,250 FTEs in both years, projecting an average of 1,229 filled in 2027 and 1,250 in 2028.
  • Reductions: elimination of $1.95 million media marketing consultant, reduction of hiring incentives from $1.6 million to $1.1 million (phased out by 2028), elimination of nine parking enforcement officer positions (vacant), three unfilled real-time crime center positions, and two filled records positions leading to layoffs.
• Councilmembers raised numerous concerns and questions:
  • Councilmember Kettle argued the proposed budget abandons the long-standing goal of 1,400 officers, calling the 1,250 cap a “sustainment budget” that undermines momentum. He questioned the reduction in parking enforcement positions and criticized the slow implementation of the real-time crime center.
  • Councilmember Juarez stated the budget does not adequately address public safety needs, citing population growth (from 737K to 816K) against a 20% officer decrease since 2020. She expressed skepticism about the mayor's gun violence plan, calling it “smoke and mirrors.”
  • Councilmember Rinck asked about training budgets and less-lethal equipment following a recent fatal shooting in Beacon Hill; Chief Sayles confirmed sufficient equipment but noted an audit for taser deployment. She noted overtime spending has increased 112% since 2022 and sought breakdowns for technical services.
  • Councilmember Foster requested data on overtime reimbursements and inquired how the department will meet 30x30 goals without dedicated DEI positions; the chief outlined alternative recruitment strategies.
  • Councilmember Rivera emphasized that police, fire, and 911 are “chartered responsibilities” and argued the budget does not prioritize them. She criticized the elimination of DEI and 30x30 positions, asking for concrete recruitment plans.
  • Councilmember Saka urged funding for CCTV cameras at Seattle Center after the July shooting, citing investigative benefits. He called the absence of such funding a “huge gap” and expressed frustration with the pace of speed camera deployment.
  • Councilmember Lin asked about noise mitigation for the firing range in Tukwila and requested comparisons of per-officer spending with other jurisdictions.
  • Councilmember Hollingsworth called for outcome-based metrics (response times, crime clearance rates) and questioned the utility of cameras, citing that RTCC cameras led to arrests in 10 of 17 homicides in 2025.
  • Chair Strauss pressed on speed camera implementation delays, noting $12 million spent annually on the program with zero cameras installed after two years of legal and contractual clearance, and expressed concern about reducing parking enforcement just as a new contract passed.
• City Budget Office Director Aly Pennucci defended the proposal as a “sustainable path” given fiscal constraints, and noted that growing to 1,352 officers would cost $14 million in 2028 and $26 million in 2029.

2. Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) – Briefing

• Chief Amy Barden and Thomas Rowland presented the CARE proposed budget. No transcript of this session was provided; the minutes indicate the information item was heard. Councilmember Rivera mentioned a $1.2 million transfer to support the mayor's gun violence plan, with $300,000 for focused deterrence programming. Discussion likely covered alternative response services and gun violence prevention.

3. Seattle Fire Department (SFD) – Briefing

• Chief Harold Scoggins and Tricia Ellermeier presented the proposed budget. The minutes indicate the information item was heard; no transcript was provided. No substantive details are available from the provided materials.

Key Outcomes

• No motions or votes were taken. The committee received the departmental budget briefings as information items.
• The meeting recessed from 12:08 p.m. to 1:01 p.m. for lunch and adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
• Councilmembers signaled intentions to propose amendments during the full budget process, particularly regarding officer hiring, recruitment incentives, parking enforcement, CCTV funding, and performance metrics.