Nickels’ budget: Focus on compassion, public safety
City’s financial position solid, but mayor calls for caution in an uncertain economy

SEATTLE – Mayor Greg Nickels today unveiled his 2009-2010 proposed biennial budget that includes a $9 million initiative to prevent youth violence, an expansion of food programs and housing for the homeless, and 42 new patrol officers.

“City government is not immune to the financial pressures of the national economy,” said Nickels.  “But Seattle has a track record of making responsible choices and this year, I am committing more resources to the key priorities that matter most to our residents.”

Nickels’ budget includes improvements to parks and community facilities, as well as accelerating construction of sidewalks and completing the Burke-Gilman trail.  While many governments are struggling, the city of Seattle has continued to see revenue growth, encouraged by the mayor’s emphasis on economic development and job creation.  This coming year however, the city also faces rising costs for health care, salaries and gas prices.  “Over the past seven years, we have worked together with the City Council through good economic times and bad.  It’s when the economy slows down, that our financial discipline pays off,” Nickels said.

Nickels’ proposed budget does not include any general tax increases.  Many of the cuts in general fund expenditures affect administration, management and support positions.  In addition to an emergency reserve fund, the city has built up a $30.6 million rainy day fund, in the event the local economy slips into a recession.

Building strong families, healthy communities
In a tough economy, the mayor’s budget spends a record $52.5 million of general fund on human services to help the least fortunate.  This includes $2.9 million for food assistance, such as purchasing food in bulk and delivering food to seniors and others who find it difficult to leave their homes. 

The mayor also increased funding for shelter and proposed another $2.1 million to secure more beds and services for “Housing First,” an innovative strategy to move the homeless into housing with in-house medical, mental health and other support programs.  This coming year, Seattle will have more than 300 Housing First units in operation with 569 units anticipated by 2011.  “In these tough economic times, we simply have more people in need,” Nickels said.  “A compassionate city cares for those who are struggling, especially in these difficult times.”

Nickels’ budget funds numerous neighborhood improvement projects including:

• Starting work on a new South East Dental Center, a vital service for low-income residents.
• Upgrading ball fields, including artificial turf at Miller Playfield and Delridge.
• Beginning work on a new Rainier Beach Community Center.
• A new Northgate park including sidewalks and pedestrian safety improvements.

A priority on public safety
Nickels’ budget delivers on the aggressive goals set in the five-year neighborhood policing plan to put more officers on the streets, especially at critical days and times.  The
budget adds 21 uniformed officers in 2009 and again in 2010, which puts the department on track to add 154 new officers by 2012. 

The mayor’s budget also maintains complete staffing on fire engines, ladders, aid cars and medic units.  It also continues to support remodeling and replacing fire stations through the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy.  “I want Seattle to be the most prepared city in America,” Nickels said.

Youth Violence Prevention Initiative
While the overall crime rate in the city has dropped to its lowest level in 40 years, incidents of youth violence have stayed constant and this year, four teenagers have been killed.  The mayor’s 2009-2010 budget includes $5.6 million in new spending and $3.6 in redirected spending for the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. 

The initiative, which creates three neighborhood networks in central, southwest and southeast Seattle, focuses on young people who are most at risk of perpetuating violence or becoming victims themselves.   The networks will identify and provide services to children who are repeat offenders, youth who have been arrested, middle-school truants and students at risk of suspension, and victims of violence or their friends and relatives who may engage in retaliation. 

Transportation: Get Seattle moving
With the help of the voter-approved “Bridging the Gap” program, the city has made great progress on transportation projects and maintenance.  The mayor’s budget includes a
major construction project to strengthen and widen the Spokane Street Viaduct, adding a new ramp for traffic from West Seattle.  The city will also begin work on utility relocation for an Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement.

In addition, the budget includes repaving 25 lane-miles of streets in 2009 and adds $3.5 million over the biennium to build new sidewalks and improve pedestrian safety.  “I am proud that we’ve added more sidewalks than any other recent administration.  We’ve built nearly 300 blocks and counting,” Nickels said.

Create jobs and opportunities for all
Nickels pointed to the arrival of light rail as an opportunity to boost small businesses and neighborhoods along the route.  He also noted Seattle’s support for industrial jobs and the opportunity of “green jobs” in the growing field of conservation and renewable energy.  He pointed to Seattle City Light’s five-year conservation plan as an example of how the city’s leadership on conservation will save money for Seattle residents.  “Across the nation, people see Seattle as an exciting, desirable place to live and to do business,” Nickels said.  “That’s the power of having a vision, the foresight and the patience to make the right investments.”

Despite the economic challenges, the city’s long-term fiscal health is good. The city continues to fund reserves for building maintenance, vehicle replacement, and technology systems.  Seattle has maintained its very high bond ratings, including the highest possible ratings on voter-approved debt.

In his budget speech to the City Council, the mayor also recognized the efforts of many city workers, including downtown park rangers and employees whose job is to eliminate graffiti.  Nickels pointed to several examples of how the city is using existing resources to improve customer service.  “We’re continuing to make our government even more efficient.  And that’s how we will maintain our level of service to the public--from police to fire, from transportation to our public libraries,” Nickels said.

The proposed general fund budget – which pays for services typically associated with city government, such as police, fire, parks and libraries – is $920 million for 2009 and $952 million for 2010. The total proposed budget (including utilities) for 2009 is $3.9 billion and $4 billion for 2010.   The City Council will spend October and November reviewing the mayor’s 2009-2010 proposed budget and capital improvement program (CIP). The budget and CIP must be adopted no later than Dec. 1; the Council anticipates adopting the budget on Nov. 24. State law requires Seattle adopt a balanced budget.

Download proposed budget highlights - Acrobat PDF

Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s inside view on efforts to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm

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Office of the Mayor