The 2022 budget wraps up, the Council modifies a Durkan executive order, and more.
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Council advances 2022 budget package toward final approval Monday
In a marathon session last Thursday, the City Council moved forward Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda’s 2022 balancing package mostly unchanged, setting it up for final approval Monday afternoon.
Continue readingNo, the City Council didn’t vote today on whether to cut 101 police officers.
If you heard or read something earlier today about the Seattle City Council taking a vote on whether to cut 101 police officers from SPD, I want you to forget what you think you know, take a deep breath, and start again. Because what you heard or read is almost certainly wrong.
Continue readingMore memos: City Budget Director, Council spar over sustainability of budget spending
On the heels of a flurry of back-and-forth memos debating the merits of proposed cuts to SPD’s 2022 budget, now the City Budget Office and the City Council are exchanging dueling passive-aggressive memos over the financial sustainability of the city’s budget in 2023 and beyond.
Continue readingCouncil prepares to vote on 2022 budget amendments
‘Twas the night before Budget, and through City Hall, Amendments were written, some big and some small. Tomorrow the City Council will participate in the ritual marathon session of final Budget Committee deliberations on amendments for next year’s budget. There are 205 amendments on the agenda for tomorrow. Make sure you bring provisions, and possibly a pillow and blanket; we’re going to be here a while. And be ready for some animated discussion of further revisions to the Council’s cuts to SPD’s proposed budget.
Continue readingAs budget process draws to conclusion, fight over SPD budget becomes open (memo) warfare
Call it the “War of the Memos.” Rather than actually get in a room and talk, the stakeholders in the debate over SPD’s 2022 budget have spent the last two weeks firing off terse (and often tense) memos at each other. But an editorial in the Seattle Times last Friday has pushed the argument out into the open and exposed the rationalizations and PR spin reinforcing entrenched positions.
Continue reading2022 budget “balancing package” released
This afternoon, the City Council’s Budget Chair, Teresa Mosqueda, unveiled her “balancing package” of amendments to the proposed 2022 city budget. It seems to be making no one happy — with the possible exception of the powerful Seattle pickleball lobby.
Continue readingCity revenue update is a mixed bag
Last week the City Budget Office sent the City Council the customary November update on city revenue projections for this year and next, in time for the Council to incorporate the new figures into its budget planning. The news was mixed; it’s also a bit complicated and takes some unpacking to fully understand.
Continue readingCouncil proposes amendments to 2022 city budget
Last week the City Council collectively offered 190 separate potential amendments to the Mayor’s proposed 2022 city budget, then spend 18 hours over three days discussing them all. I listened to it all, so you didn’t have to. Here’s what I learned.
Continue readingThis week in Council Chambers: October 25-29, 2021
The Councilmembers unveil their proposed budget amendments this week, and then join in the ritual “voting while not voting.”
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