Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact Information
Dawn Schellenberg
Phone: 206-889-8638
Email: dawn.schellenberg2@seattle.gov

Statement on funding universal school meals starting this fall

The following statement is from Mayor Katie B. Wilson:

"Seattle has spoken overwhelmingly in support of universal school meals. Let's give a ton of credit to the teachers, parents and students who mobilized for free breakfast and lunch for every student. This is a priority of my office and we did the work to find a fiscally responsible path to fund universal school meals within the FEPP levy, which didn't require cutting services or eliminating jobs. Yesterday, the Council voted 6-3 to walk away from it.

Now Council is proposing to pull this funding from our general fund, which is already facing a $175 million deficit. I look forward to seeing which critical services they plan to cut from the general fund to make their numbers work. I ask them to reconsider the fiscally responsible approach my office originally put forward. Feeding every student in Seattle is a goal we share, and my office is eager to work with the Council to find the best path forward."

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