Council Budget Chair Dan Strauss said he will scrutinize Mayor Katie Wilson’s $9.1 billion 2027-28 proposal after it recommended staffing and overtime cuts that affect Seattle Fire Department, the 911 center and the CARE Community Crisis Responders team.
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Edit Close Close Mayor Katie Wilson speaks about her proposed 2027-28 city budget at Seattle Central Library on Tuesday.
Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Mayor Katie Wilson speaks about her proposed 2027-28 city budget at Seattle Central Library on Tuesday.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson presented a $9.1 billion proposed city budget for 2027-28 that aims to reduce an estimated $175 million shortfall. The plan cuts more than 140 positions across the municipal payroll of about 13,500, though most cuts are to vacant posts. The proposal includes 15 actual layoffs.
Dan Strauss, chair of the Seattle City Council Budget Committee, opened the council's budget review expressing concern about specific reductions that affect public safety and crisis response. Strauss said his focus is "safety, affordability, and stability" and indicated he wants closer review of cuts to the Seattle Fire Department, the city's 911 operations, and the CARE Community Crisis Responders team.
Practical effect of the staffing change
Chief Scoggins explained the reduction could mean taking four to six units out of service daily, which may require closing a firehouse for a shift depending on available equipment. Those adjustments are the department's plan to meet the overtime reduction while maintaining core emergency response capabilities.
The mayor's budget leaves 14 CARE positions vacant. CARE provides community-based mental health responses as an alternative to police and also runs Seattle's 911 emergency response system. The proposal eliminates eight vacant 911 operator positions.
Other budget priorities and context
Despite the cuts in some areas, the proposed budget increases funding for the Seattle Police Department by about 13%, up to roughly $1.135 billion. The general fund would direct about 53% of its roughly $2 billion in spending toward public safety. The police increase would fund up to 1,250 officer positions compared with roughly 927 officers currently.
Mayor Wilson also proposed continued funding for immigrant and refugee services and a $500,000 program for community organizations working with transgender individuals. The mayor did not include new city business taxes in the plan, citing concern about the local economy's fragility.
The council's formal budget review will span about two months. The City Council must pass a balanced budget by Dec. 2. Strauss' comments signal scrutiny ahead for the specific public safety and crisis response cuts in the mayor's proposal.
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