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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Adopted 2008 Budget maintains focus on Nickels' initiatives
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
11/19/2007 3:30:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Adopted 2008 Budget maintains focus on Nickels' initiatives
City Council passes budget that builds for the future
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today praised the City Council for adopting the city of Seattle’s 2008 general fund budget that maintains a focus on public safety, neighborhood enrichment, climate protection, and transportation.
“This is a strong budget that will help us invest wisely for the future,” said Nickels. “It will put more police on the streets; ensure we have active and inviting parks; reduce climate pollution and improve transportation. I’m pleased the Council also maintained my emphasis on one-time budget items that don’t require continued funding in the future.”
Nickels proposed a $921 million general fund budget to the Council in September. Since then, the city’s adjusted revenue forecast increased by another $6.3 million. With the increased revenue and other adjustments, the Council added funds to a number of Nickels and Council priorities: pedestrian safety, human services, library books, parks and neighborhood facilities, and the rainy day fund.
The Council’s most significant adjustment to Nickels’ budget was an $8.4 million cut to a proposed 311 system to provide a one-stop shop for Seattle residents needing non-emergency city services.
“We need to overhaul how we handle customer service in Seattle and 311 is the right answer,’ Nickels said. “I’m disappointed the Council decided this wasn’t a priority. A 311 system would be invaluable not only in an emergency, but on a daily basis, it would make our government more open, accountable, inclusive and responsive to everyone, including Seattle’s growing immigrant and refugee communities.”
While making small cuts to two new programs, Council approved the concepts: the orphaned parks fund, which will offset the loss of funds for improving parks when the Parks levy expires in 2009, and the Green Building Revolving Fund, which will make cost effective investments in city-owned facilities to reduce energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions.
The Council also agreed with Nickels on a couple of business-related items: providing tax relief to small businesses by raising the threshold from $50,000 to $80,000 for businesses required to pay business and occupation (B&O) taxes; and a new square footage tax for businesses to partially offset $22 million in lost revenue the city faces after the state legislature changed the way B&O taxes are collected.
And the Council supported initial work to create an urban trail around Lake Union.
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
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