Earlier this week, Mayor Bruce Harrell released the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget. In this budget, Mayor Harrell is continuing to make needed investments and take bold action to address the urgent needs of our communities and advance our One Seattle priorities. Mayor Harrell’s balanced budget proposal remains focused on strengthening public safety, creating housing affordability, and supporting healthy, vibrant, and thriving communities, while also responding to a $251 million general fund deficit with a balanced budget. The general fund deficit and fiscal position meant difficult choices that were not required in recent past budget cycles. The proposed budget seeks to continue to deliver positive progress, in addition to optimizing use of limited dollars toward key priorities and driving efficiencies.
With the investments in this budget proposal, we can work together to advance our shared One Seattle vision and an agenda that will inspire the best in our city and keep us moving forward.
For the Office of Planning and Community Development, key highlights included in the mayor’s proposed budget include:
- Comprehensive Plan Environmental Review: The 2025 proposed budget allocates one-time funding of $350,000 in 2025 for a Supplemental EIS to provide necessary environmental review related to proposed zoning changes within existing Regional and Urban Centers to allow more height and development capacity for housing, following the adoption of the One Seattle Plan. The analysis will build on the One Seattle Plan EIS and will analyze potential impacts for each element studied in the EIS, including heightened analysis of land use and urban form (bulk, shade, shadow) as well as citywide and local transportation impacts.
- Equitable Development Initiative: The Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) continues to be a foundational and growing program, supporting BIPOC-led organizations that are leading anti-displacement efforts and property acquisition. The EDI is a centerpiece of the City’s strategy to reduce displacement pressures, increase access to economic mobility and opportunity, and enable equitable access to neighborhoods throughout Seattle. Mayor Harrell’s 2025-2026 proposed budget increases funding for the EDI program to over $26 million. These funds will be used for a 2025 RFP that will focus on grantee stabilization and development in support of their projects through capacity building.
Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s 2025-2026 Proposed Budget. Public hearings are on October 16 and November 12. Final adoption of the budget is expected on Tuesday, November 21.
Read more about the Mayor’s proposed budget here: https://harrell.seattle.gov/2024/09/24/mayor-harrell-announces-2025-2026-budget-proposal/ and direct any questions to MOS_COMMS@seattle.gov.