Mayor Bruce Harrell Releases 2023–2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments
Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell is releasing the 2023–2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments. This budget reflects Mayor Harrell’s continued commitment to, and investment in, bold actions that address urgent needs of our communities and advance our One Seattle priorities.
Mayor Harrell’s proposal continues work initiated in the 2023 Adopted Budget to invest in creating safe, healthy, and thriving communities. This budget continues supporting efforts to deliver effective public safety, build affordable housing and address the homelessness crisis, activate our downtown, and advance opportunity and equity for all.
With the investments in this budget proposal, we can work together to advance our shared One Seattle vision and an agenda that will inspire the best in our city and keep us moving forward.
I am particularly pleased that the proposed Human Services Department (HSD) budget of $334M sustains our core investments while addressing urgent needs. At our core we focus on six key impact areas including preparing youth for success, supporting affordability and livability, supporting safe communities, addressing homelessness, promoting public health, and promoting healthy aging. We continue to invest in services such as:
- An array of long-term services and supports for clients who receive in-home care, nutrition services, and caregiver support so people are able to age in place
- Seattle Youth Employment Program and mental health so young people will thrive
- Nutritious and culturally relevant food or utility discounts to make living more affordable
- Ending gender-based violence, victim support and violence reduction strategies to increase safety
- Shelter, rapid rehousing, outreach and housing programs through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to address homelessness
The following is a summary of the Human Services Department’s key changes in the 2023–2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments:
- A 2% increase to support contracted human services provider wage equity totaling $4.2M in 2024. This is in addition to the 7.5% contract inflationary increase agencies will receive in 2024.
- $1.9M one-time funding to continue the work of We Deliver Care along Third Avenue in 2024 as part of The Downtown Activation Plan (DAP). The DAP, announced in June 2023, outlines the Mayor’s plan to revitalize and transform Downtown Seattle as the city continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- $2.2M appropriation of revenue from the state’s settlement agreements with opioid distributors and pharmacies. Funds will support investments such as community-based programs addressing opioid use in Seattle including post overdose response and drug user harm reduction services, and Seattle Fire Department’s Health 99 overdose Unit to quickly engage overdose survivors and increase acceptance of services and referrals to support.
For more information on the proposed budget, read the mayor’s press release here.
Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s 2023–2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments. Public hearings are on October 18 and November 13. Final adoption of the budget is expected on Tuesday, November 21. You can also direct any questions to MOS_COMMS@seattle.gov.
In community,
Tanya Kim
Department Director
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