Select Budget Committee hears SPD plan for 86 new officers, cuts to overtime and CCTV funded from payroll-expense tax

The Seattle Select Budget Committee heard an overview Oct. 17 of the Seattle Police Department’s 2026 proposed budget, which Central Staff said increases 4.4% relative to the 2026 endorsed budget. Greg Doss of Council Central Staff summarized personnel-driven changes, including funding for 86 net new officers in 2026 and several budget reductions intended to meet a general-fund savings target.

Central Staff said the single largest increase is roughly $26 million tied to personnel. “The 2026 proposed budget for the Seattle Police Department increases 4.4% relative to the 2026 endorsed budget,” Greg Doss said. He told the committee most adjustments are personnel related and that the leadership and administration line showed a roughly 16% increase tied to new sworn hires.

Why it matters: the additions have near-term operational and medium-term fiscal consequences. Doss said the additional 86 officers would cost about $26 million in 2026 — roughly $23.5 million in salaries and $2.5 million in equipment — and that annualized obligations rise as recruits move into fully funded sworn positions. Central Staff estimated the 2027 ongoing cost from one projected class could grow from about $26 million in 2026 to roughly $34 million in 2027 for that cohort alone.

Overtime, vacancy and temporary positions: Central Staff identified three offsetting reductions. The executive proposed a $950,000 cut to the SPD overtime budget “to meet a general fund reduction target,” Doss said, and a $2.8 million vacancy-rate adjustment that assumes some funded positions will remain unfilled and thus reduce salary spending. A $395,000 cut was proposed to the department’s temporary term-limited budget as four temporary civilian positions expire. Doss noted that task-force work for federal or state partners is usually funded by overtime that is reimbursed by the partnering agency and that the $950,000 cut would not affect most reimbursable task-force functions.

Council questions focused on operational effects and timing. Council President Nelson asked whether officers who participate in federal task forces are funded by overtime; Doss answered that such details are typically reimbursed by federal or state grants and not expected to be affected by the overtime reduction. Councilmember Rink pressed when new officers would become deployable and when the department might reach pre‑2018 staffing: Central Staff projected that if current hiring continues at projected pace, the department could approach historic staffing levels around 2028.

CCTV and payroll-expense tax: Central Staff highlighted equipment adds tied to recently authorized CCTV expansion and the RTCC (real-time crime center). The proposed budget includes $435,000 for cameras in the Capitol Hill nightlife district and $350,000 for cameras in the Stadium District; Central Staff noted the Stadium District costs also include a 2025 year-end supplemental so total cost for that site is roughly $535,000. Doss said these FIFA-related camera and barrier expenditures are being funded from the payroll-expense tax; several councilmembers expressed concern about using that revenue source for CCTV instead of the purposes originally emphasized in the city’s “jump start” policy. “I would just state my displeasure seeing that this particular item is funded with the payroll expense tax,” Councilmember Kettle said.

Public disclosure, DEI and civilian posts: The packet lists $580,000 to add two public disclosure officer positions after SPD received more than 17,000 disclosure requests in 2024. Central Staff also said a temporary DEI position is being converted to a permanent civilian FTE.

Parking enforcement officers (PEOs): Central Staff flagged a longstanding staffing bottleneck in PEO ranks. SPD has about 104 PEOs but historically struggled to fill vacancies; in 2023 the unit had 20 vacancies. Doss said 18 long-standing vacancies have generated about $2.1 million in salary savings annually, money SPD reallocated to other priorities (overtime, technology). The executive reduced civilian salary authority (part of the $2.8 million vacancy adjustment), which Central Staff said creates a barrier to filling PEO positions even where hiring would generate net fine revenue. Central Staff estimated a typical PEO costs about $115,000 in salary and benefits and historically generates roughly $200,000 a year in fine revenue; the memo recommended that, if the council wanted to accelerate PEO hiring, it consider backfilling the civilian salary authority with a proviso that the funds be used only if hires are realized and PEOs reach the street.

30 by 30 initiative (women in policing): Central Staff reviewed the department’s 30 by 30 work group, which aims to reach 30% women in SPD recruit classes by 2030. The memo said SPD’s current hires include roughly 9.6% women — below the national average cited in the packet — although the absolute number of women applicants has increased. Central Staff noted council added a 30-by-30 strategic-adviser position during the 2025 budget process but SPD declined to fill the position, citing changed salary-savings circumstances amid a hiring boom. Central Staff presented options: (1) add ~ $224,000 to fund the strategic-adviser role, (2) let SPD use existing authority to pay for the position, or (3) a mix or proviso that restricts new funds to the intended purpose. Several councilmembers said they support the initiative and want more regular reporting and stronger hiring outcomes; others asked for additional data and for more complete links between recruitment measures and funding.

What was not decided: the briefing was informational. There were no votes taken. Central Staff and committee members flagged potential midyear supplemental requests, and several councilmembers said they expect continued committee work on overtime, PEO hiring, and recruitment planning as the budget process continues.

Next steps and follow-ups: Central Staff will provide additional details on the payroll-expense-tax rationale for FIFA-related spending if requested, as well as precise staff‑count and cost breakdowns (e.g., public‑disclosure staffing “fully loaded” costs and exact counts for the “before the badge” program and for task-force assignments). Committee chairs signaled intent to return to overtime and PEO discussion in subsequent quarterly reviews and budget deliberations.