Council Connection’ Budget Chairman Mosqueda Releases 2023-24 Balancing Program After Significant Drop in Revenue Forecast; Invest in the fight against austerity and prioritize the services people rely on

VIDEO: Announcement of President Mosqueda’s budget

SEATTLE- Council Member Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8, citywide and chair of the inner budget committee) released its balancing program today.

Despite looming economic uncertainty and the highest inflation in decades, Council Member Mosqueda’s balancing agenda rejects austerity and prioritizes keeping our community cared for and housed, connected and resilient, healthy and healthy. safe.

Less than two weeks after the city received a dire economic forecast, predicting a $64 million net decrease in real estate excise tax, a $9.4 million net decrease in the general fund and a net decrease of $4.5 million in sugary drink tax revenue in the biennium, Mosqueda unveiled package that centers anti-austerity measures, funds historic investments in affordable housing and the fight against homelessness, and prioritizes a city of the future through investments in climate resilience.

“There were no easy answers in this year’s budget, but there were core values ​​to start from: transparency and accountability, investing in key and essential city services for our working families and our small businesses, and prevent cliffs in services and avoid austerity to ensure a resilient economy,” said Mosque Chair.

Much of the 2023-24 budget investments protect strongly participatory policies and balance with higher-than-expected revenue support from the historic JumpStart Seattle progressive payroll tax, and use of the short-term rental tax. term and the tax on transport network companies to balance the budget. The Mosqueda Balancing Program immediately ends the temporary use of these funds at the end of the biennium to allow investments to grow in affordable housing, economic resilience, the Green New Deal, investments in transit and the Equitable Development Initiative (EDI).

Over the past seven weeks, Council has engaged the community in a dialogue on the Mayor’s proposed budget: convened two public hearings, eight public committee meetings, listened to hundreds of community members, and Council members proposed 100 amendments. This constant dialogue has informed a budget that will help move Seattle forward through the biennium, with key investments on critical and emerging needs. The main investments include:

• Human service provider inflation is rising to stay true to previously passed legislation and ensure that our city’s domestic violence, homelessness, and food security providers don’t fall further behind;
• $20 million annually in Equitable Development Initiative projects that promote economic opportunity, prevent displacement and meet community needs with developments such as housing, child care, space for small businesses, cultural and community space;
• $20 million in Green New Deal investments each year, including nearly $4 million in investments to create community climate resilience hubs, $4.6 million in Indigenous-led sustainability projects and $1.8 million for community-led environmental justice projects;
• An investment of $9 million each year in School Health Centers, including a new investment of $3 million across the biennium for school mental health services in response to demand more mental health care providers; Funding the Seattle Fire Department’s emergency response capacity by funding the Fire Station 26 Medical Unit and Fire Station 27 Ladder Truck to continue to serve West Seattle and South Park;
• Created a combined total of $1.5 million in 2023 for abortion care to ensure access to comprehensive reproductive care for the uninsured in Seattle; and,
• A historic investment of $253 million in the Housing Authority for affordable housing – that’s an increase of more than $50 million from the last budget for the construction of rental housing, more support services and first-time ownership opportunities made possible only by JumpStart, and this amount is fair for 2023 with an increase in 2024

Other key investments in the Initial Balancing Package can be found here.

In addition, the Balancing File is available online in its entirety, along with a summary presentation from Board policy staff.

“This year we’ve seen a new partnership between the City’s Budget Office, Mayor Harrell’s office and council – we’ve had honest, open and transparent conversations, especially as we’re jointly concerned and invested in closing the income gap, protecting the most vulnerable, boosting our local economy and investing in municipal services, which will help us recover faster and more equitably,” said Mosqueda. “While the work of staff is being done to balance this budget, and deserves immense respect and applause, to budget sustainably for the next biennium, we need to include new incremental revenue. We cannot continue with the delicately balanced short-term solutions in this biennial budget. I will work hard in 2023 with Senior Deputy Mayor Harrell, as co-chairs of the Seattle Revenue Stabilization Task Force, and community appointees and my colleagues to ensure our city has the progressive revenue tools that we need.

AND AFTER

Now that the balancing file has been released, the public and Council members will begin reviewing the proposal in its entirety and will have an opportunity to comment.

The last of three public hearings for public comment is due tomorrow – Tuesday, November 15 at 5 p.m. at City Hall. Those wishing to testify can participate online and are encouraged to do so given the ongoing nature of COVID. In-person testimonials will also be accepted.

Council members can now create amendments to the balance package. Changes must be made by noon on Wednesday, November 16. Council members will vote on these changes and the entire balancing package next week, Monday, November 21 at 9:30 a.m.

The final votes on the budget will take place on Monday 28 November and Tuesday 29 November. For more information on the budget, please see the Budget Committee page as well as a guide to the Board’s budget process.

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