Seattle Select Budget Committee Meeting - October 14, 2026

The Select Budget Committee met on October 14, 2026, from 9:32 a.m. to 3:18 p.m., with a recess from 12:32 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., to review and discuss the 2027-2028 Proposed Budget for the Office of Housing, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Center, and the Seattle Department of Transportation. Central Staff presented detailed analyses and policy options for each department.

Discussion Items

Office of Housing (OH)

• Central Staff presented the OH budget overview, noting a stable budget with a 14% reduction in the homeownership and sustainability BSL due to the removal of a one-time $3.4 million appropriation. The JumpStart appropriation remains around $140 million, with other major sources including the housing levy ($138 million annually) and mandatory housing affordability fees ($20 million).
• A critical change is the year-end supplemental reducing OH's JumpStart appropriation by $65 million, moving to a model where appropriations are based on annual cash expenditure needs rather than carrying forward 100% of available funds. Central Staff raised concerns about the difficulty of verifying the executive's claim that this will not impact capital investment levels in the short term.
• Policy options discussed included adopting a Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) requiring quarterly budget-to-actual information and notification to council before the 2027 multifamily NOFA of the amount and methodology of JumpStart included. Councilmember Foster (chair of the committee overseeing OH) emphasized the need for guardrails during this transition.
• Councilmember Juarez raised concerns about the $15 million commitment to the Northgate Commons project (originally $20 million, reduced to $15 million), urging the council to ensure the funding is honored. Central Staff confirmed OH is tracking the commitment and that the Seattle Housing Authority will apply through the regular NOFA process.
• Councilmembers discussed the need for a strategic housing investment plan, with Councilmember Kettle noting its value for understanding production across different AMI levels. Chair Strauss observed that the department has grown from $69 million (2019) to $350 million (2026) while staffing only increased from 45 to 24 FTE.

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR)

• Central Staff presented the SPR proposed budget, which increases by $37 million (10%) in 2027 and $49 million (12%) in 2028, primarily due to bond issuance for four major community center renovations (Green Lake, Lake City, Loyal Heights, Queen Anne). Other capital investments include new restrooms (including two prefabricated units) and play area renovations.
• Proposed reductions include a $500,000 general fund reduction to graffiti abatement and prevention strategies (removing non-labor funds for creative strategies) and removal of one-time council-added $950,000 for a community organization's graffiti abatement contract. Central Staff noted that the graffiti team has conducted nearly 11,000 abatement activities, of which only about 200 were on private property.
• The unified care team (UCT) budget faces a $900,000 general fund reduction, removing three vacant positions and moving two heavy equipment truck driver positions back to natural resources. Councilmember Juarez (chair of the committee overseeing SPR) expressed strong concern that the UCT is being deprioritized, given ongoing public safety issues in parks. Councilmembers Kettle and Rivera echoed this, arguing the reductions represent an "unfunding" of critical public safety functions. Councilmember Foster clarified that the three vacant positions have never been filled since being added in 2023, and the truck driver positions were also unfilled for UCT; she urged clarity on whether the reduction actually affects service levels.
• Councilmember Saka noted the city's inability to maintain existing restroom inventory while adding new ones, citing a scathing audit. Chair Strauss raised concerns about communication from SPR regarding the Discovery Park Visitor Center and the Magnolia Playfield project.

Seattle Center (CEN)

• Central Staff presented the Seattle Center budget, highlighting significant capital fluctuations due to timing of the Memorial Stadium redevelopment and campus revitalization planning. The operating budget remains relatively stable.
• A key policy consideration is the proposed campus revitalization program, which includes a $3.2 million interfund loan to fund pre-bond planning (including a comprehensive campus plan, armory space planning, and Fisher Pavilion decarbonization). This loan would be the third interfund loan to Seattle Center, with existing loans of $16.5 million (arena/COVID) and $40 million (Memorial Stadium). The proposed budget includes $2 million in 2027 and $1 million in 2028 in general fund support to help Seattle Center catch up on loan repayments.
• Councilmember Saka (chair of the committee overseeing CEN) expressed support for the bond measure preparation but called for clearer deliverables and firm decision dates. Chair Strauss noted that interfund loans are considered a last resort, but justified by the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic and arena construction impacts.
• Councilmember Rivera inquired about campus security investments (weapons detection equipment, fencing, crisis training) following a mass shooting at the center. Central Staff agreed to follow up on camera installations.
• Councilmember Foster asked about the use of admissions tax revenue to support festivals (Festál, Northwest Folklife, Winterfest), and Central Staff provided details on artist payments and community partner funding.

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)

• The SDOT item was heard as an information item during Session II (1:46 p.m. – 3:18 p.m.). No detailed discussion was recorded in the provided transcript or minutes, aside from noting the information was received. Chair Strauss had earlier remarked that SDOT is "in such a financial crisis that they cannot pay their payroll" and expected a longer discussion, but the transcript ends without substantive debate.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; all four items were information items heard for briefing and discussion.
• The committee recessed from 12:32 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. and reconvened for Session II.
• Councilmembers expressed consensus on several points: the need for guardrails on OH's budget changes, support for the Northgate Commons commitment, concerns about graffiti abatement and UCT reductions, and support for the Seattle Center revitalization planning.
• Future actions include potential adoption of SLIs for OH, further discussion of UCT funding during the Human Services Department budget hearing on October 16, 2026, and continued work on the Seattle Center bond measure.