Vote authorizing funding may take place during City Council’s upcoming budget process
The Select Budget Committee may choose to vote on the future of Seattle’s $27.25 million participatory budgeting (PB) projects this month. However, this won’t be confirmed until it’s added to the Council’s agenda, which is posted no later than 24 hours before each meeting.
How did we get here?
Funding for PB was set aside in 2020 while the community engagement, idea collection, and community voting process took place. Now that projects are developed and City departments are ready to help implement them, the next steps require City Council’s vote. In August, Mayor Harrell sent legislation to City Council proposing to authorize $27.25 million to fully fund all six participatory budgeting projects, including:
- Community-Operated Restrooms ($7.2 M)
- Mental Health Crisis Response ($2 M)
- Native-Focused Community Center for Youth ($7.2 M)
- Urban Farming & Food Equity ($7 M)
- Enhanced Housing Navigation Services ($2 M)
- Youth & Young Adult Emergency Shelter Capital Fund ($1.85 M)
These projects were developed and selected by community members who engaged in the process whether by serving on a committee, contributing ideas to the ballot, or casting a vote.
What to expect:
Councilmembers have three options as they review the PB legislation. They may:
- Approve full funding of all components of the PB legislation. If this option is selected, all projects will move forward as designed, and six city departments will receive funding to implement them through a combination of competitive grants and as part of existing city services.
- Decline to fund the PB legislation in its entirety. If this option is selected, no projects move forward and the funding that was set aside for PB goes back into the general fund to be used for other purposes.
- Write amendments to the PB legislation to adjust the funding allocated to each project. Amended projects would need to be scaled down to align with amended funding amounts. The remainder of the funds that are saved through these amendments will then be directed to other City projects.
Next steps in City Council’s budget process:
- November 12: Final public hearing on the City’s budget starts at 5pm
- November 13-15: Council votes on budget amendments
- November 19: Budget Committee takes final votes
- November 21: Final vote of the full council on the budget
For more information, visit:
- Demystifying the Council’s Budget Process, which includes an overview of the budget calendar and ways to participate
- SOCR’s website
