Seattle Council eyes mid-year budget adjustments including universal school meals, higher cop wages, and repurposing unused crime camera money for ‘Community Violence Interruption Ambassadors’

The Seattle City Council’s finance committee is spending part of its Tuesday morning session pounding out details of the 2026 Mid-Year Supplemental Budget.

The annual effort adjusts existing city budget allocations across multiple operating and capital areas. Proposed changes and adjustments are also on the table including an amendment that would repurpose unused funding from the planned expansion of Real Time Crime Center cameras to the Central District and Capitol Hill.

The 2026 updates include $80.2 million to the Seattle Police Department for retroactive and ongoing wage increases under the new contract with officers, $3.0 million for the Interlocal Agreement with King County Department of Public Defense to adjust for reduced attorney caseload limits required by state guidelines, $2.5 million for capital improvements at the Seattle Chinese Garden, and a transfer of $500,000 from SPD to the Human Services Department for sexual assault victim support services per advisory panel recommendations.

The updates include other financial adjustments made over delayed projects and changes like new hires.

The package also totals out around $44.9 million in external grants, donations, and service contracts across 41 projects. These external funds support initiatives including the Memorial Stadium redevelopment, citywide park and pool improvements, transit infrastructure maintenance, and environmental restoration.

Overall, while the proposed supplemental ordinance reflects a General Fund expenditure increase of $94.5 million, the city analysis shows the impact on the General Fund is limited to approximately a half million as $92 million was previously held in designated financial plan reserves for labor contracts and related commitments.

Tuesday’s meeting includes consideration of a small roster of proposed amendments.

The seven proposals focus mostly on reallocating city resources toward community services, youth programs, and targeted public safety initiatives. Key proposals include transferring $3.6 million in JumpStart Payroll Expense Tax funds to restore the Universal School Meals program with Seattle Public Schools, along with $300,000 to HSD for LGBTQ community organizations providing essential emergency shelter and food access.

Councilmembers also proposed shifting money away from planned law enforcement and maintenance expansions, repurposing $685,000 from parks graffiti abatement and SPD CCTV camera expansion toward mobile substance use treatment and neighborhood outreach positions in North Rainier and North Beacon Hill, as well as a proposal from District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth redirecting $250,000 from SPD CCTV funds for “Community Violence Interruption Ambassadors.”

Other funding amendments involve adding $50,000 for a dedicated Human Trafficking Prosecutor cross-deputized with King County, placing a $200,000 proviso on HSD funds for a non-profit-managed youth diversion and housing stability program, and providing $15,000 to the Woodland Park Zoo to develop a citywide coyote coexistence plan.

The mid-year budget jockeying comes as projections still point to a $175 million budget deficit at Seattle City Hall for the upcoming fiscal year, with multi-year estimates projecting a structural deficit of nearly $488 million over the next three years.

Mayor Katie Wilson’s administration has instructed city departments to model 5% to 10% budget cuts as part of preparations for the city’s next budget proposal.

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