Seattle announces nearly $40M to double care responders, boost fire recruits and stabilize diversion services

Seattle officials on the steps of Fire Station 10 outlined a nearly $40,000,000 executive budget package intended to expand nonpolice crisis response, strengthen fire department staffing and stabilize diversion and treatment pathways.

Mayor Harrell told reporters the plan would "double our care department responders" in 2026 and invest in "proven solutions to help meet people where they are with care, compassion, and empathy." He said the proposal also includes a 10% increase in 911 call-taker staffing and investments in firefighter recruitment and post-overdose services.

Council President Sarah Nelson, who has championed treatment-centered public safety, said the City Council previously adopted a resolution directing up to 25% of new public safety sales-tax revenue toward addiction treatment, recovery-based housing and services. "Everybody deserves the same chance at recovery that I had," Nelson said, urging sustained investment across diversion, treatment and housing.

Care Chief Amy Barton described the Care Department as an integrated first-response unit of unarmed responders dispatched alongside police and fire channels, emphasizing shared records in a CJIS-protected environment to coordinate follow-up services. "They are unarmed responders," Barton said, adding that the program has expanded from six responders in 2023 to 24 in early 2025 and has handled thousands of crisis calls without incident.

Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said the package dedicates $2.1 million to hire 20 firefighter recruits (moving the hiring target closer to 100) and $1.6 million to expand SFD's Health 99 post-overdose response. "We are currently responding to more than 60 patients each week who have overdosed," Scoggins said, and described recent pop-up clinics that connected dozens of people to long-acting buprenorphine and other services.

Lisa Dugard, co-executive director of Purpose Dignity Action and part of the LEAD program management team, said the announced $5 million for LEAD primarily stabilizes services that had been sustained with one-time funding and will prevent a service drop in 2026. She described LEAD as long-term, individualized case navigation for people with complex needs and urged continued investment to maintain long-term recovery supports.

Officials also cited a $1.2 million allocation for DESC's ORCA patient outreach pod team and a $3 million RFP to identify best practices for connecting people exiting jails to treatment. The mayor said other announcements are forthcoming and noted labor negotiations with the Seattle Police Officers Guild are ongoing; he declined to detail negotiation positions publicly because talks are active.

No formal council vote or contract award was recorded at the event; officials said some elements depend on upcoming budget decisions and interagency agreements. Mayor Harrell closed by thanking community providers and by saying the city will provide more details in the coming weeks.