Seattle Park District outlines proposed 2026 budget, schedules Nov. 21 adoption; public hearing draws no speakers

Seattle Park District board members heard a briefing on the proposed 2026 Seattle Park District budget and opened a public hearing on revenue sources and a potential 2026 property tax increase on July 8; no members of the public spoke during the hearing and the board scheduled final adoption for Nov. 21, 2025.

The proposed 2026 Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) budget covers nearly $360,000,000 across all funds, SPR staff said. The proposal includes an operating budget of about $272,000,000 and a capital budget of about $88,000,000. "We believe public serving organizations work best when they are purpose driven and guided by defining principles," said Ap Diaz, superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, during the briefing.

Why this matters: SPR staff said the Park District is being used as a flexible funding source to preserve core services and to help the city manage an overall general-fund shortfall and rising costs. The proposal would use one-time Park District realignments to cover roughly $7,500,000 of services that were planned to be supported by the general fund in the 2026 endorsed budget.

Key budget details presented - Total across all SPR funds: nearly $360,000,000 (2026 proposed). - Operating budget: about $272,000,000 (approximately 76% of total SPR budget, per staff presentation). - Capital budget: about $88,000,000, supported by Park District funds and real estate excise taxes, staff said. - The Park District financial plan shown in the briefing does not include approximately $7,600,000 previously appropriated for…