Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the 2024 mid-biennial budget into law, totaling $7.8 billion in appropriations.
The budget adopted by the City Council reflects the core priorities of Mayor Harrell’s proposed budget, doubling down on what is working and investing in a better city for tomorrow. The final budget includes a record investment in affordable housing, wage increases for the human service providers caring for our most vulnerable neighbors, and support for diversified emergency response options to improve public safety.
“This budget shows our continued commitment to bold actions that address the urgent needs of our communities, investing in a future where every Seattle resident feels welcome, safe, and supported,” said Mayor Harrell. “I want to thank Budget Chair Mosqueda, City Councilmembers, and all the staff at the City Budget Office for their high-quality work throughout this process to put forward a final budget that maintains the essential services residents demand and reflects our One Seattle vision of an equitable, thriving city. There is much in this budget to build on, and I look forward to working with the incoming Council to implement these investments and drive real progress on the priorities that matter for our communities.”
Select highlights of 2024 budget include:
- $339 million investment in affordable housing, representing a 32% increase from the 2023 adopted budget.
- $109 million investments in homelessness to support outreach, shelter, and other critical programs through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA).
- $26.5 million to support the new Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department, an increase of 30% over 2023.
- $26.5 million for the Housing for Workforce Stabilization Fund to support permanent supportive housing providers wages.
- $23 million investment in human service provider wages and wage equity, representing a 9.5% increase in pay over 2023, along with childcare worker retention bonuses.
- $17 million toward diversion programs like LEAD, supporting the recently passed law regarding public consumption by prioritizing diversion for drug users.
- $15 million to support the Downtown Activation Plan (DAP) and Future of Seattle Economy agenda ($3.9 million DAP, $6.6 million Future of Seattle Economy, and $4.7 million overlapping).
- $4.5 million to the Seattle Police Department for a special event staffing premium and to implement an MOU with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, improving citywide officer availability.
- $2 million to support the City’s opioid overdose response including expanding Seattle Fire Department’s Health 99 Post Overdose Response Team and other health services, building on $7 million toward capital improvements in treatment centers to address addiction with a health-forward approach.
- $1.9 million for an additional year of funding to We Deliver Care providing outreach as part of the Third Avenue Project.
- $1.8 million investment in piloting a new suite of advanced safety technologies to protect neighborhoods impacted by recurring gun violence, collect new evidence to solve crimes, and address the increase we see in stolen vehicles.
- $850,000 in start-up costs to new Social Housing Public Development Authority.
- $350,000 to expand Trees for Neighborhoods program to 1,300 trees planted in 2024 and evaluate siting a One Seattle Tree Nursery to grow trees locally, building on recent $12.9 million grant from the Biden-Harris administration to expand access to tree canopy.
- $150,000 to Immigrant and Safety Access Network to continue increased support and resources for immigrant and refugee communities.