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The Urbanist Podcast: Seattle City Budget Season 2022

Ray Dubicki - November 02, 2022
Mayor Harrell delivered his budget speech from City’s Charles Street Vehicle Maintenance Facility. (Seattle Channel)

In this week’s episode, reporter Ray Dubicki is joined by The Urbanist’s executive director Doug Trumm to discuss allocations and adjustments as Seattle’s budget season moves into high gear. The City has about $1.7 billion to spend, and there’s no end of things folks are asking for.

That list includes a lot of requests for street renovations and pedestrian improvements that we’re quite fond of. And there’s Mayor Harrell’s re-relocating parking enforcement from Seattle Department of Transportation back to the Police Department, which is patently dumb. But first the council has come up with ways to close the expected $140 million deficit, a gap that is projected to increase over the coming years. It’s a glimpse into some interesting Seattle leadership dynamics.

As promised, below are links to excellent resources about the budget from The Urbanist’s Ryan Packer and Publicola’s Erica C. Barnett. Their dedication wading into these budget proceedings in unparalleled and deeply appreciated.

Of course, we want to know your thoughts, opinions, and budget wishlist. Reach out to us at podcast [at] theurbanist.org.  

As always, you can find The Urbanist podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and other major platforms. And if you are enjoying the podcast, be sure to offer a “like” or “thumbs up” on your favorite platform. It’s a great way to spread the word to new listeners. 

Harrell’s Budget Would Move Parking Enforcement Back to SPD, Add $10 Million to Homelessness Authority, and Use JumpStart to Backfill Budget
By Erica C. Barnett Mayor Bruce Harrell’s first budget proposal would use JumpStart payroll tax revenues to shore up spending … Continue reading Harrell’s Budget Would Move Parking Enforcement Back to SPD, Add $10 Million to Homelessness Authority, and Use JumpStart to Backfill Budget
Seattle City Council Floats Car Tab Increase, New Bikeshare Tax During Budget Discussions
To pay for additional transportation projects, the Seattle City Council is contemplating a $10 increase to the city’s vehicle license fee, doubling school zone traffic cameras, and a $0.25 per-ride fee levied on scootershare and bikeshare operators. With the City Council halfway through deliberations over the 2023-2024 budget, a big milestone was reached last week … Continue reading Seattle City Council Floats Car Tab Increase, New Bikeshare Tax During Budget Discussions