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Dear friends and neighbors,
Last week, I signed the City of Seattle?s 2023-2024 Budget into law. This budget makes a record half-a-billion-dollar investment over the biennium in affordable housing to address the city?s housing and homelessness crises, supports needed investments in public safety and police hiring, and addresses community priorities to drive opportunity and equity for all.?
I put forward my budget proposal in September, which focused on improving public safety, urgent action to bring people indoors, and delivering the essential City services that residents expect and demand. This was a historically challenging budget year as we addressed a significant revenue gap. While not everything we proposed was funded, there is much in this budget to build on, allowing us to advance our efforts to build One Seattle.
Now our focus shifts to implementing these priorities, using the resources and investments we?ve made in the budget to keep people safe, get them into shelter and housing, and move forward as a city where everyone is welcome, secure, and supported.
I look forward to building on this work and uniting people around our common values toward making Seattle a safer, more equitable city.
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 Bruce A. Harrell?
Mayor of Seattle?
Working Together to Build One Seattle?
Mayor Harrell signs 2023-2024 Budget alongside City Councilmembers and staff.
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Mayor Harrell talks to a Seattle Police Officer while visiting the Criminal Justice Training Center, where officers receive their basic law enforcement training.
Improving Public Safety
Our public safety budget reflects our commitment that every resident has an inherent right to safety and that our communities can thrive when they are free from fear. We will lead with a comprehensive approach ? swift response times, support for crime victims, community partnerships, and long-term solutions. Key investments include:
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Mayor Harrell helps volunteers build a tiny home at the Sound Foundation NW?s Hope Factory.
Urgent Action on Housing and Homelessness
Making progress on the homelessness crisis is inextricably linked to access to housing ? both a source of and a solution to homelessness. This budget includes a historic investment in affordable housing to address the city?s housing and homelessness crises and increased investments in enhanced outreach services and efforts to make public spaces clean and accessible to all. Key investments include:
- The largest one-year investment in affordable housing in City history ? approximately $250 million for development of affordable housing, representing a new level of commitment to addressing the city?s housing and homelessness crises?
- Investments in the Unified Care Team to support ongoing efforts to ensure a clean city and transition to neighborhood-based teams that provide tailored outreach and support
- Increased investments in the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to maintain and improve shelter options, outreach services, and other critical programs for people experiencing homelessness
- New shelter units and safe lot spaces, putting the City on course to meet the 2000-unit identification goal that is part of the One Seattle Homelessness Action Plan
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Mayor Harrell visits an after-school choir class at the University Heights Center.
Meeting the Needs of Today and Preparing for Future
Our budget investments will continue to equitably expand access to opportunity in our city so that every resident can reach their full potential ? whether that means access to a good job, education, or support for their business. We will continue to support healthy, thriving communities, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and revitalize our economy from Downtown to neighborhood business districts across Seattle. Key investments include:
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