December 02, 2021
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Mayor Signs Seattles 2022 Budget Into Law - Patch.com

Jenny Durkan signed off on her final budget as mayor Thursday, adopting the council's $7.1 billion funding package.

The budget includes nearly $200 million for affordable housing efforts.
The budget includes nearly $200 million for affordable housing efforts. (Getty Images)

SEATTLE — Mayor Jenny Durkan signed the final version of Seattle's 2022 budget into law on Thursday, including hundreds of millions in affordable housing efforts and homeless services funded by the city's JumpStart payroll tax.

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who chairs the budget committee, released a statement Thursday outlining some of the core elements included in the $7.1 billion package.

"The final 2022 City Council Budget that Council passed goes into law today that makes an historic investment of $194m into affordable housing and services, front-loads funding for shovel-ready affordable housing projects this year, and ensures continuity of affordable housing funding in coming years," Mosqueda said. "The Council's final budget invests over $15.4m in new services for sheltering and caring for those who are experiencing homelessness resulting in a total of $156m in the 2022 adopted budget."

Other investments include nearly $30 million for community stability programs, nearly $6 million in additional food security investments and $4 million for youth violence intervention programs.

The council released a list of key investments in late November, following the budget's final passage:

Unprecedented $194M Investments in Affordable Housing:

  • $165M for the creation of new, affordable rental housing, nearly twice the amount invested in previous years – focusing on funding shovel-ready projects to leverage available state and federal dollars
  • More than doubling the City's investments in first-time home ownership development to build generational wealth in communities impacted by past discriminatory policy
  • $97M for affordable housing coming directly from JumpStart progressive tax

Funding Solutions to our Homelessness Crisis:

  • $15.4M in new investments in homelessness services that the new Regional Homelessness Authority will administer.
  • $1.5M in Vehicle Residency Outreach and Safe Lots.
  • $5M to leverage community & county partnerships to create a high acuity shelter.
  • Protecting over $10M for tiny house village short-term housing solutions.
  • $9.3M for cleaning up litter and garbage across the city.

Creating a Connected Community and Thriving Economy:

  • $22.5M in economic recovery and resilience investments from the JumpStart progressive revenue tax rooted in creating equitable, creative, and culturally appropriate opportunities for entrepreneurship.
  • Authorizing up to $100M in bonding capacity to repair bridges around the city.
  • $16.4M for Green New Deal and climate resilience investments.
  • $14.4M in transportation projects focused on maintaining and enhancing our transportation infrastructure, safer streets for people walking and biking, expanding mobility access for all abilities, and activating our public spaces.

Investing in Healthy and Safe Communities:

  • There are no cuts to Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers or officer salaries
  • Fully funds SPD's hiring plan: 125 new officers in 2022.
  • 26 new positions to the Community Safety and Communications Center (CSCC) to address the existing 911 dispatch operational needs.
  • Expands the Community Safety Officers (CSO) program by 6 more officers bringing the total funded positions to 24.
  • $2.5M to expand mobile mental and behavioral health crisis services.
  • $3.9M increase for LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) which is a post-arrest/pre-booking diversion program.
  • $10.4M in funding for organizations working toward community-led solutions to end violence and increase safety in BIPOC communities.
  • $26.4M for overtime for officers.
  • Restores the $4M in the Community Safety Initiative cut by the Mayor's proposed budget for gun violence and youth violence reduction programs.

The council sparred with the mayor's office and faced criticism from Mayor-elect Bruce Harrell over funding for the Seattle Police Department, and on Thursday Mosqueda defended the council's final version of the plan.

"Despite initial misleading statements by the Mayor, Council's budget always made significant investments in public safety, including 26 new dispatch positions to the Community Safety Communications Center, fully funded the hiring plan for new officers, and never cut Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers or salaries," Mosqueda said. "Additionally, the Council's budget rightly captured cost savings from vacant positions so that every available dollar was put to use in 2022."

The council received Durkan's budget proposal in late September and adopted the final version on Nov. 22.



source: https://patch.com/washington/seattle/mayor-signs-seattles-2022-budget-law

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