On Tuesday, September 24, Mayor Bruce Harrell submitted to the Seattle City Council his proposed 2024-2025 budget. City Council deliberations on the Proposed Budget began the next day with an overview of the technical details of the Mayor’s budget by Interim City Budget Director Dan Eder to the Select Budget Committee. A series of presentations from City and Council staff will follow over the next two months and public hearings on the budget will occur Wednesday, October 16 and Tuesday, November 12. The Council currently plans on holding a final vote on the 2025 budget on November 21.
Proposed Operating Budget
Actuals from 2023 show total expenditures of $5,131,488 in SAS expenditures, with $4,698,013 coming from the General Fund and $433,475 coming from the Animal Shelter Donation Fund. The proposed SAS budget increased to $7.7 million for 2025 and $8.0 million in 2026.
In his resignation letter, SAS Director Esteban Rodriguez accused the City of Seattle of refusing to fund critical positions and much-needed shelter remodeling. The Seattle Times published this response from Mayor Bruce Harrell:
Callie Craighead, a spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrell, said in an email the city is in the process of hiring a behaviorist, and has already hired a foster care coordinator. She said both positions are fully funded.
She said that due to a $250 million budget shortfall, Seattle can’t afford to fund a new facility or add new positions, but the city has set aside nearly $4.5 million for building improvements at the shelter. Additionally, she said, the city invests $7.4 million annually in the shelter.
We will follow up on the details as we learn them.
Proposed Capital Budget
The most significant proposal for capital expenditure is for the SAS electrical system improvements. This item adds $858,000 in Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) funding to support facility electrical improvements at the Seattle Animal Shelter. The funding will be used to address ongoing electrical problems at the facility that have disrupted shelter operations, including medical procedures and other veterinary services.