{"id":20903,"date":"2024-10-30T09:04:48","modified":"2024-10-30T09:06:13","slug":"councilmember-strauss-unveils-budget-aimed-at-strengthening-public-safety-building-housing-and-addressing-affordability","link":"https:\/\/council.seattle.gov\/2024\/10\/30\/councilmember-strauss-unveils-budget-aimed-at-strengthening-public-safety-building-housing-and-addressing-affordability\/","title":{"rendered":"Councilmember Strauss unveils budget aimed at strengthening public safety, building housing, and addressing affordability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Seattle City Councilmember <\/strong>Dan Strauss<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>(District 6), Chair of the Select Budget Committee, will officially release his Chair\u2019s Balancing Package this morning. The balancing package is the initial budget proposal from the City Council, it updates the mayor\u2019s proposal and reflects deep engagement between Chair Strauss and his Council colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur city is at its best when we\u2019re focused on people helping people. That\u2019s what this budget proposal is all about. Whether it\u2019s investments in strengthening public safety, ensuring people are have access to affordable housing, or combatting food insecurity, this budget is all about making sure our city is a place where people can thrive,\u201d said Councilmember Strauss<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis was a tough budget year\u2014we faced a deficit of more than $250 million and we received an economic forecast last week that showed an additional near $50 million reduction to the city\u2019s General Fund. It\u2019s also true that the same inflationary pressures that helped cause our budget deficit are being felt by families across Seattle right now. We won\u2019t leave them behind,\u201d said Councilmember Strauss<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis budget takes a big step towards fiscal sustainability, and the job isn\u2019t done. After a decade of high growth and low inflation, we are taking focused steps to reform our budget. That\u2019s what we did this year, and it is what we will continue to do next year. We are taking a step-by-step approach so we don\u2019t unnecessarily cut the basic services Seattleites depend on,\u201d Councilmember Strauss<\/strong> continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am incredibly thankful to my fellow councilmembers and Mayor Bruce Harrell for all the work they\u2019ve done and ideas they put forward. It\u2019s because of their partnership that we have this consensus package that will serve our city,\u201d Councilmember Strauss<\/strong> concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights from the Chair\u2019s Balancing Package:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The full balancing package, including the 2025-2026 funding allocations and sponsors of the individual budget actions, can be found here<\/a>. In addition to the investments already detailed in the Mayor\u2019s budget proposal<\/a>, the balancing package would focus on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n