Seattle Mayor Proposes $6.5 Billion 2020 City Budget

SEATTLE, WA — Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan unveiled a $6.5 billion budget proposal on Monday, seeking funding for several new or expanded programs for the city in 2020. The mayor's office says the proposal focuses on five priorities: youth opportunity, public safety, homelessness, housing and transportation.

Mayor Durkan's speech at Franklin High School highlighted plans to ensure two years of tuition-free college for high school graduates, expand childcare assistance, hire more police officers and create a new regional homelessness authority.

Using a portion of the funds from the city's recent sale of the "Mercer Mega Block," Mayor Durkan said the city would invest $78 million to build affordable housing, while another $16.7 million of that money would help pay for transportation projects, including new bus and bike lanes.

In the public safety realm, the mayor's plan would fund a hiring boost for the Seattle Police Department, sustain neighborhood emphasis patrols and expand the Seattle Fire Department's Health One program — a special team that handles calls related to drug or alcohol use, mental crises and non-emergency medical issues.

The budget proposal is now in the hands of Seattle City Council. The Seattle Times reports a final version may pass by late November. You can read the complete budget proposal on the city's website.