[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6167613,"mediaKeyId","5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8","parentId",5410619,"title","Council staff flags forecast risk as city considers carry‑forward, grant acceptances and midyear supplemental","audioSeconds",1692,"startMs",5352000,"endMs",3660000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8&start=5352&end=3660","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8/thumbnail_5352000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6167613/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Council-staff-flags-forecast-risk-as-city-considers-carryforward-grant-acceptances-and-midyear-supplemental","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167613-8cfd71c332f3ddfba3a896641066e3eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189285&Signature=X-MqCdcf5txvPY6ZVJRsYeCdBnY8qGG3FbzHTFAInGAwqs6V24Emg4Mg2qgaR40fuCVOleMwqlqERPCZ54jDPNsOOWE2ueu6cuLipSr5RGRZMJiOQnB1xQZzRATD-aFsnuoDZ~WiVHKH2fMrdqqLBOGCiH2jP6wNpkVIrL6c91LzjNDLaviD2MgvF6AHHk~AwtpKIa1voG~TJxbemqGIPt9q2f1~1Qr9RvsYgVRq0dL06yAt6-OR2LWmzLJU4TE5OSCyGauRv8IyG7fX-tjL0mjdGdXrrysmPP-gTjpbjYrwUyTOtMWUmWQI~Qw6i1o-yZLrnF195dCv5rku8faB~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seattle City, WA","date","2025-07-16T21:33:19Z","article","City budget staff told the Select Budget Committee July 16 that an April revenue forecast prompted a change in approach to the annual carry‑forward ordinance and to the midyear supplemental package, which includes grant acceptances and targeted appropriations.

Central facts: Ben Noble, director of council central staff, and Dan Eder, director of the city’s Central Budget Office, said the April forecast reduced payroll‑expense tax projections and made the originally transmitted carry‑forward package “over‑appropriated” for 2025. To avoid approving appropriations the city may not have the revenue to support, the executive prepared a companion midyear package that reduces a transfer from the payroll‑expense tax fund to the general fund and requests several technical and programmatic adjustments now.

What the package includes
- Grant acceptance (midyear grant bill, CB121030): about $23,000,000 in external funds are being authorized for acceptance and council appropriation of roughly $22.4 million. Highlights in the transmitted packet include a $4,000,000 Department of Commerce grant to Seattle Center for Memorial Stadium work, $3,700,000 for the Washington Cares administration (HSD), and $2.5 million for criminal‑justice diversion services administered by a community‑based organization under contract with the Human Services Department.
- Midyear supplemental (CB121031): described by central staff as reducing total city appropriations technically by roughly $202,221,000 because capital carry‑forwards are reconciled; when that accounting is normalized the bill increases annual appropriations by roughly $43.6 million. The supplemental adds 11 full‑time equivalent positions across departments (for example, to manage Washington Cares funds and to staff a drug‑diversion program) and makes other technical corrections.

Why staff reconfigured the carry forward
Central staff explained that operating appropriations lapse at calendar‑year end unless carried forward. The executive first transmitted a carry‑forward ordinance before the April forecast; after the forecast reduced certain projected revenues, the executive proposed a change that reduces the transfer to the general fund from the payroll‑expense tax fund for 2025 and relies on targeted underspend to manage the 2026 impact. Director Eder said the executive will propose further adjustments in the mayor’s fall budget transmittal.

Budget tradeoffs and risks
Council staff and the executive emphasized tradeoffs. The executive proposes to use available one‑time fund balances and to underspend the 2025 budget to buy down near‑term pressure. Council central staff warned that concentrating revenue on a smaller number of taxpayers adds volatility and that a final forecast in October could require rapid rebalance. Ben Noble urged council members to bring amendment ideas earlier than the formal July 22 deadline to allow technical work.

Next steps
Committee staff said the package will return to the committee on July 30 for further review; amendments for the B&O proposal and for supplemental items are due July 22. The mayor will transmit the proposed 2026 budget in late September.

Ending note
Committee members pressed the executive and central staff on whether some city housing funds that are encumbered but not yet spent could be used to cover near‑term needs; the executive said those awards generally fund projects with multi‑year construction timelines and that repurposing them would be a policy choice with tradeoffs for future housing production.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Select Budget Committee 7/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","City budget staff told the Select Budget Committee July 16 that an April revenue forecast prompted a change in approach to the annual carry‑forward ordinance and to the midyear supplemental package, which includes grant acceptances and targeted appropriations.","taxTitle","Seattle, King County, Washington","taxId",2543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6167616,"Council reviews 'Shield Seattle' B&O tax restructure as advocates and businesses clash",5253,67000,5320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8&start=67&end=5320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8/thumbnail_67000.jpg","/articles/6167616/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Council-reviews-Shield-Seattle-BO-tax-restructure-as-advocates-and-businesses-clash","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167616-1beb2158431877c94ffb037b484131a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189285&Signature=D4BT12BBLLp3A4ArpBjCfhOkfLHsO7ulgNScSlGn3-Khl89TSQNVbADQR2RF~y91K6H4I8W6bAVCH6xAGTynnbluqCElKYuuaHGR0qIJ1F9XEQVKwOlZ20dvxHkCkdcSGreapyABV5OM8HUS35nmzRufEVGj-BS41GXMEK2tpqoTzxyEAJj6ILtMBgSSi0hOmajX4URnY5m~zCViO3IBIZI~lPA9zZlq0BWTKxRxsCyGPjolZCuEc~t6byVYFfhL-czBwyFOTOzhVia4F72swljvL7IW33Zm3zvENF1PFxzQgmu8dKUt-nMFgzujYmzvcsOIu6hiJ6o4n0w8nfX0hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Budget Committee heard hours of testimony and a staff briefing July 16 on council member Mercedes Rink’s Seattle Shield proposal, a ballot referral that would restructure the city’s business-and-occupation (B&O) tax and, if approved by voters, is projected to raise about $90,000,000 a year while exempting most very small businesses.

The proposal would boost the small‑business exemption from $100,000 to $2,000,000; create a $2,000,000 standard deduction; and raise tax rates on larger taxpayers so the package nets about $90 million a year for a set of human‑services and public‑safety priorities. It would include a six‑to‑eight year sunset structure and go to Seattle voters on Nov. 4 if the council sends it to the ballot.

Why it matters: City and nonprofit leaders told the committee the revenue could shore up shelters, housing and emergency food programs that they say face cuts from federal actions, while many business owners warned it will discourage job creation and put fragile small and midsize firms at risk. Council members and the executive said the measure is one part of a broader strategy that will not by itself close a roughly $235–$240 million combined general‑fund and payroll‑expense tax gap identified in the April forecast.

Central facts
- The city’s forecast office estimates the restructure would generate a net $90,000,000 annually after raising the exemption and applying a new standard deduction.
- Council central staff summarized the mechanics: the exemption rise to $2,000,000 would exempt an estimated additional 15,906 filers; a $2,000,000 standard deduction would remove roughly $10.8 billion of gross receipts from the tax base; and rate increases (to 0.342% for retail/wholesale/manufacturing and 0.658% for services/other categories) would be required to fund the changes.
- Central staff and the executive emphasized revenue risks: the bill would narrow the taxable base from roughly 21,000 taxpayers to about 5,000, concentrating revenue risk; the April forecast saw slower growth and a 40–50% probability of recession in the next 12 months; state law changes (cited in the presentation as “state law 35 2 1 7 11” and the 2015 change classifying some tech services as retail) also affect definitions used in city collections.

What proponents said
Several human‑service providers and hunger‑relief organizations urged the council to send the proposal to the ballot. Hallie Willis, introduced as policy manager for the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, said a restructuring would “help protect essential services like housing and shelter from local and federal budget cuts” and that “the $90,000,000 this tax will raise every year is essential.” Dennis Sills of Plymouth Housing and others said the measure is a “crucial first step” but not sufficient on its own to close the city’s structural shortfall.

Small business views and concerns
Small business owners and business groups urged caution. Blake Garfield, who described himself as owner of a Wallingford retail store, said the cumulative cost of city and state taxes plus downtown vacancy and other pressures makes operating in Seattle difficult and asked that the council consider alternative ways to target revenue. Lily Hayward, speaking for the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber supports raising the standard exemption and creating a standard deduction but “we oppose doing so, however, by raising the B&O tax on other businesses” and urged using fund balance and underspend where possible.

Council and executive framing
Council member Mercedes Rink, the bill sponsor, framed the measure as “giving Seattle voters the choice they deserve” and said it protects small businesses while asking larger firms to “step up” to preserve services. Deputy Mayor Greg Wong said the proposal “strikes the right balance” by reducing costs for many small businesses while raising revenue to offset federal and state headwinds; he noted the measure contains a four‑year sunset that could be extended if council approves a later ordinance.

Limits and next steps
Central staff and the executive repeatedly warned of forecast risk and operational cost and timeline risks if the city must implement a new tax structure by Jan. 1: system changes to tax administration could cost an estimated $2.3 million (plus possibly $2.7 million more for legacy system updates) and about $1.5 million a year in ongoing administrative costs. Staff also flagged that roughly one‑third of the anticipated additional B&O receipts would be generated by a very small number of large taxpayers, increasing volatility.

The committee did not vote. Staff and the sponsor noted that amendments to the proposal or related budget items are due July 22 and that the council is scheduled to consider final action in August; if the council forwards the measure, voters would see it on Nov. 4.

Ending note
Speakers on both sides urged the council to weigh both local budget needs and long‑term business climate concerns. Central staff and the executive said the restructure is only one lever among efficiencies and reductions the city will need to use to respond to the multi‑year budget shortfall.
","The Select Budget Committee heard hours of testimony and a staff briefing July 16 on council member Mercedes Rink’s Seattle Shield proposal, a ballot referral that would restructure the city’s business-and-occupation tax and, if approved by voters, is projected to raise about $90,000,000 a year while exempting most very small businesses.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6167603,"Council asked to increase revolving loan ceiling to finish Workday implementation",101,7427000,7528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8&start=7427&end=7528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8/thumbnail_7427000.jpg","/articles/6167603/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Council-asked-to-increase-revolving-loan-ceiling-to-finish-Workday-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167603-f68876ba5fbff7d2fcd5bb0f2ffd8684/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189285&Signature=eyjtnnY2jXcrR63Au3mGzUldoqoC-yKSKqf6VE8choJYibOCa3wFzZSUdHj3ll~j4d~DplhPv-syqAq~1sRu-otpvzloWRdILvIKjmgneTaPUk-DpBW1A1n2L4vSEczQSPzfLvtt2KK0HLyefdtnN3dlYieEKCULriWi-BnqOWTn3c4vorYXRPFP7dUVYYPWVn5jEZ7ZKc8Bq5Ym8upUAR7ulZW88RA5feDAdLXCI5QxeL7fXZGNn1y~9bO-QtItUA1b~ZAgCA8GPUsDxDMSrEcUTLCRY~ynv1xO6oICLaBCugGOupurlaCjQ8JvhFvtuBcu2D9F3oF06lun~ncraA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance and central staff briefed the Select Budget Committee July 16 on a request to amend an earlier interfund loan and increase the budget for the Human Capital Management System (HCMS), commonly called Workday.

The request, embodied in council bill CB121033, would raise the previously authorized revolving interfund loan ceiling from $11,000,000 to $13,200,000 and change the borrowing fund for the loan, with repayment planned from a 2026 LTGO bond issuance. Director Jamie Carnell said the initial loan had been fully drawn and repaid; the project now needs the higher ceiling to cover remaining implementation costs and bring the system to wide operational stability.

Why the increase: Carnell described the remaining work as final implementation tasks that include additional system implementer consulting, payroll stabilization and the specialized configuration work required by the city’s complex payroll, scheduling and departmental timekeeping needs. She said the increase will let the city finish configurations, pay implementers and support additional training and help desk resources as departments transition to the new system.

Staff review and next steps
Council central staff said the proposal had been reviewed by the city’s debt management advisory body and staff had no concerns with the technical debt implications. The committee asked the finance director for a more detailed accounting of outstanding tasks and consultant uses; Carnell committed to providing that detail at the next committee meeting.

Ending note
No vote was taken at the July 16 briefing. Central staff said the bill would return for committee consideration with more granular information about implementation tasks and remaining consultant work.","City finance and central staff briefed the Select Budget Committee July 16 on a request to amend an earlier interfund loan and increase the budget for the Human Capital Management System (Workday).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6167608,"Council briefed on World Cup spending: $6.2M in 2025 appropriations moved to operations for safety, right‑of‑way work",293,7011000,7304000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8&start=7011&end=7304","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410619-4f4fa9ea656d8aff16fb56ac6c0d89e8/thumbnail_7011000.jpg","/articles/6167608/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Council-briefed-on-World-Cup-spending-62M-in-2025-appropriations-moved-to-operations-for-safety-rightofway-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167608-a75de3c901af477134aeb1f5269660e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189285&Signature=cnxEvPZOghORUYrsNtQpBIvUw9ngoRX~CrPs2RyiNqehEoSK3h6w0FBzmp7PW1vsx30BQDCEmXZfPeIk2TNVM7aTkb4aL38fv0-jc8TTe~hFuhqpHRsWP8T~TIpSCmG8QW3KHkpRVanlSImtS~JUHFjs42m6asEkZcTgf1Nf2wUWTWjlHYSo8-vDgAIBYUsLGMTR1-htTWgmgA-9u4O49LKRtsjq0DM25ZIY1oMTXLyibbQJGqOe5VokjvKOH2-mXG0lqAoTCESBUs2F1CCQqeuDuZoPA3FGw4NKMB8bSXOkxUbue42268hz4FI~r0VZKqERXT3Q2jgIl9Hmjuvi4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Budget Committee received a briefing July 16 on appropriations tied to Seattle’s role as a host city for six FIFA World Cup matches in 2026, and the mayor’s office asked the council to convert $6,200,000 of previously reserved capital funds to operating budgets for 2025 and 2026.

Lede facts: Seattle will host six World Cup matches between June 15 and July 6, 2026. The city earlier set aside $12,200,000 across 2025–26 for World Cup readiness; the July 16 packet reallocates $6.2 million of that amount into operating departments this year to cover immediate preparation costs.

What the funds will pay for
- Public‑safety risk mitigation: Seattle Fire Department will buy additional hazardous‑material detection and medical supplies so SFD can staff and equip resources for concurrent large events at multiple venues.
- Right‑of‑way and access: Seattle Department of Transportation will fund signage, signal adjustments and sidewalk/streetscape improvements in corridors around Lumen Field to increase accessibility and pedestrian safety.
- Vehicle‑ramming mitigation and campus protection: Seattle Center and Parks will install hardscape measures (bollards and similar devices) and make landscape/park repairs; Westlake Park measures were specifically discussed.
- Event staffing and fan celebration management: Seattle Center would hire four temporary positions for Q4 2025 through 2026 to support the fan celebration and related operations.

Why the money was moved
Kylie Rolfe and Tracy Ratzliff explained that the action is revenue neutral because council previously reserved the funds; the reallocation moves capital funds into department operating budgets so departments can buy materials and hire short‑term staff in advance of the matches. Ratzliff said the city is also negotiating a memorandum of agreement with the tournament’s local organizing committee to clarify reimbursable costs and roles; that MOA may come to council for review before the budget transmittal.

Committee questions
Council members asked for details about the vehicle‑ramming mitigations (bollards, planters and similar hardscape were mentioned) and noted that surveillance and other police‑sensitive expenditures must clear the city’s civil‑rights and privacy CERS/surveillance review process before being appropriated. Staff said some Seattle Police Department proposals must complete that review before funds can be appropriated.

Ending note
No vote was taken; the item will return for further review as part of the midyear supplemental and capital program adjustments. The City remains on a timeline to finalize planning well ahead of the 2026 tournament dates.","The committee heard a packet that reallocates $6.2 million previously set in capital for World Cup planning into operating budgets for Seattle Center, SDOT, SFD and Parks to cover public‑safety equipment, right‑of‑way improvements and fan‑celebration staffing ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council staff flags forecast risk as city considers carry‑forward, grant acceptances and midyear supplemental

Council reviews 'Shield Seattle' B&O tax restructure as advocates and businesses clash

Council asked to increase revolving loan ceiling to finish Workday implementation

Council briefed on World Cup spending: $6.2M in 2025 appropriations moved to operations for safety, right‑of‑way work