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COUNCIL RELEASES REPORT REVEALING NEW COSTS FOR “HOMELAND SECURITY”
“Homeland security is evolving into a core City function.”

SEATTLE—The City Council today releases a report (attached) revealing how Homeland Security has become a major funding responsibility for the city, which now absorbs 53% of a total of $85.5 million in costs.

“Homeland security is evolving into a core City function,” says Councilmember Nick Licata, chair of the Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights & Arts Committee. “The city recognizes the need to address sustainability issues related to its homeland security efforts including ongoing staffing costs,” he added.

Since September 2001, the City of Seattle has received considerable funding from the federal government to support new homeland security efforts. Public safety, utility and general government departments have redirected funds, as well as redeployed city staff to focus on homeland security.

The city has found that between September 2001 and December 2005, Seattle will have spent $85.5 million on homeland security activities. The report, released today, represents Seattle’s first comprehensive attempt to capture the full costs of those activities to date.

"We surveyed other major cities,” says Susan Cohen, City Auditor, “and found Seattle’s could be the first attempt by any major city to quantify the financial impact Homeland Security costs have had on a city budget."

Three factors contribute to the large share (53%) of the new homeland security costs Seattle has absorbed:

• The City’s efforts to achieve compliance with post-9/11 guidelines from the federal government, regulatory agencies and professional organizations;
• The costs of additional ongoing staffing for homeland security, for which there is no federal grant support;
• The costs of physical security enhancements that are not funded by grants.

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City Council

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