Seattle City Council adopts 2026 budget and approves multiple bond, tax, fee, and program changes at Nov. 21, 2025 special meeting
At a glance
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Special Seattle City Council meeting called to order at 1:04 p.m.; Council President Sara Nelson presiding. Public comment heard from four speakers. Council adopted the Introduction & Referral Calendar, approved the consent calendar, passed the 2026 budget (CB 121116) and related budget/CIP changes (CF 314546), and approved numerous ordinances on bonds, fees, taxes, and administrative transfers (see key decisions). Resolutions on Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System funding intent and SCERS interest rates were adopted. Meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
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Key decisions
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- Passed CB 121116 — adoption of the 2026 City budget, including capital improvement program and position modifications (passed as amended).
- Approved CF 314546 — City Council changes to the 2026 Proposed Budget and the 2026–2031 Proposed Capital Improvement Program.
- Authorized multiple bond and financing ordinances including: CB 121089 (drainage and wastewater revenue bonds), CB 121090 and CB 121091 (municipal water system revenue bonds and amendments), CB 121103 (limited tax general obligation bonds for capital improvement program), and CB 121104 (municipal light and power revenue bonds).
- Approved CB 121101 — authorized bridge financing (interfund loan) of $39,800,000 for the Memorial Stadium redevelopment project and related fund creation.
- Adopted property tax levy ordinances for 2026 (CB 121119 and CB 121120).
- Approved fee and program changes including: CB 121106 (street and sidewalk use fee schedule), CB 121107 (Seattle Parks and Recreation 2026 fee schedule), CB 121105 (SDCI permit and related fees), and CB 121108 (amendment to Sweetened Beverage Tax code section).
- Transferred administration of the Major Institutions and Schools program from the Department of Neighborhoods to the Office of Planning and Community Development (CB 121092).
- Transferred graffiti nuisance enforcement authority from Seattle Public Utilities to the Superintendent of the Department of Parks and Recreation (CB 121109).
- Authorized changes to the Seattle Transportation Benefit District uses, including expansion for passenger transportation services (CB 121123) and expansion for transit security (CB 121124).
- Adopted Res 32184 and Res 32185 concerning City Council intent to fund the Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS) and approval of SCERS interest rates for 2026.
- Filed the 2026 Proposed Budget and the 2026–2031 Proposed Capital Improvement Program as Clerk Files CF 314544 and CF 314545.
- Public comment was taken (rules suspended for the special meeting); speakers listed in the record: Pastor Steve Jerbi; Tara Miller; Bennett Haselton; Karina Patel.
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Meeting information
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City Council
Special Meeting
Agenda
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
- PRESENTATIONS
- PUBLIC COMMENT
- ADOPTION OF INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR:
- November 21, 2025
- APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
- APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
- Journal:
- November 12, 2025
- Bills:
- AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of November 3, 2025, through November 7, 2025, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of November 10, 2025, through November 14, 2025, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE:
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the drainage and wastewater system of The City of Seattle; adopting a system or plan of additions and betterments to and extensions of the existing drainage and wastewater system; authorizing the issuance and sale of drainage and wastewater revenue bonds in one or more series for the purposes of paying part of the cost of carrying out that system or plan, providing for the reserve requirement, and paying the costs of issuance of the bonds; providing parameters for the bond sale terms including conditions, covenants, and other sale terms; describing the lien of those bonds; amending certain sections and subsections of Ordinance 125455, as last amended by Ordinance 126482 (the “Omnibus Refunding Ordinance”); and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the municipal water system of The City of Seattle; adopting a system or plan of additions and betterments to and extensions of the existing municipal water system; authorizing the issuance and sale of water system revenue bonds in one or more series for the purposes of paying or reimbursing part of the cost of carrying out that system or plan, providing for the reserve requirement, and paying the costs of issuance of the bonds; providing parameters for the bond sale terms including conditions, covenants, and other sale terms; describing the lien of the bonds; creating certain accounts of the City relating to the bonds; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the municipal water system of The City of Seattle; amending Ordinance 125714, as amended by Ordinance 126483, to incorporate the terms of certain contingent amendments thereto that were to become effective upon the occurrence of certain events that have since occurred, to delete certain provisions rendered inoperative by the amendments, and to make certain other technical amendments; and ratifying and confirming the amendments and certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to acceptance of funding from non-City sources; authorizing the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee to accept and authorize the expenditure of specified grants, private funding, and subsidized loans and to execute, deliver, and perform corresponding agreements; amending Ordinance 127156, which adopted the 2025 Budget, including the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP); changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget; revising project allocations for certain projects in the 2025-2030 CIP; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to automated traffic safety cameras; updating financial and fund policies related to the use of cameras and the name of the associated fund; and amending Ordinance 124230.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the financing of the Memorial Stadium redevelopment project; amending Ordinance 127125 to increase the amount of an existing interfund loan; creating the 2027 Multipurpose LTGO Bond Fund B, and allowing it to be a borrowing fund for the loan; and authorizing the loan of funds in the amount of $39,800,000 from multiple city funds as bridge financing to the 2027 Multipurpose LTGO Bond Fund B for the Memorial Stadium redevelopment project.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to City financial management; closing certain funds and authorizing the Office of City Finance to take action pursuant to those closures; authorizing the transfer of all unexpended and unencumbered balances and other assets and liabilities of those funds; abandoning appropriation authority from those funds; retiring an obsolete interfund loan authorization; and repealing Ordinance 124892.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to contracting indebtedness; authorizing and providing for the issuance and sale of limited tax general obligation bonds to pay or reimburse all or part of the costs of various elements of the City’s capital improvement program and for other City purposes approved by ordinance and to pay the costs of issuance of the bonds; providing parameters for the bond sale terms including conditions, covenants, and other sale terms; amending Ordinance 123480, as previously amended by Ordinances 124341, 124637, and 124924; Ordinance 124053, as previously amended by Ordinances 124146 and 124341; Ordinance 124341, as previously amended by Ordinance 126938; Ordinance 124637, as previously amended by Ordinance 126938; Ordinance 124924, as previously amended by Ordinances 125986 and 126938; and Ordinance 125197, as previously amended by Ordinances 125456, 125715, and 125986; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the electric system of The City of Seattle; adopting a system or plan of additions, improvements, and betterments to and extensions of the existing municipal light and electric power generation, transmission, and distribution system of the City; authorizing the issuance and sale of municipal light and power revenue bonds for the purposes of providing funds to pay part of the cost of carrying out that system or plan, providing for the reserve fund requirement (if necessary), and paying the costs of issuance of the bonds; providing parameters for the bond sale terms including conditions, covenants, and other sale terms; describing the lien of the bonds and authorizing their issuance as either senior lien parity bonds or junior lien bonds; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to street and sidewalk use; amending the Street Use Fee Schedule authorized by Section 15.04.074 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to Seattle Parks and Recreation; establishing the 2026 fee schedule for the use of park properties and other park and recreation facilities and services; and superseding previous park and recreation fee schedules.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the Sweetened Beverage Tax; amending Section 5.53.055 of the Seattle Municipal Code to remove obsolete guidance on use of proceeds and remove non-supplantation funding provisions.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to graffiti nuisance enforcement; transferring authority to enforce the City’s graffiti nuisance code from the Director of Seattle Public Utilities to the Superintendent of the Department of Parks and Recreation; and amending Section 10.07.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
- AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance 127156, which adopted the 2025 Budget, including the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP); changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget; revising project allocations for certain projects in the 2025-2030 CIP; adding CIP Projects; creating positions; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to taxation; increasing the threshold above which an out-of-city business must obtain a business license tax certificate, pursuant to changes in the state model ordinance on general business license requirements; and amending Section 5.55.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to funding from non-City sources; authorizing the Mayor or designee to accept grants, enter into revenue-backed service contracts, and carry forward related appropriations.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the business and occupation tax; amending Section 5.30.050 of the Seattle Municipal Code to amend definitions due to amendments to the model business license tax ordinance and other state law amendments.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the levy of property taxes; levying taxes on all real and personal property in The City of Seattle, for the year beginning on the first day of January 2026, as allowed by and for the purposes of the laws authorizing those taxes, which include providing for general obligation bond interest and redemption requirements; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE authorizing the levy of regular property taxes by The City of Seattle for collection in 2026, representing an increase above the regular property taxes levied for collection in 2025; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to City finances; creating a fund for depositing General Fund proceeds related to preservation and revitalization of Seattle’s Central District and Southeast Seattle community.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Transportation Benefit District; authorizing material scope changes to City of Seattle Proposition 1 to expand uses of revenues for passenger transportation services.
- Resolutions:
- SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE:
- A RESOLUTION amending Resolution 31334; establishing the City Council’s intent to fund the Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System as informed by the January 1, 2025 Actuarial Study.
- A RESOLUTION approving interest rates set by the Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS) Board of Administration for 2026.
- Clerk Files:
- SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE:
- 2026 Proposed Budget.
- 2026 - 2031 Proposed Capital Improvement Program.
- COMMITTEE REPORTS
- SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE:
- AN ORDINANCE relating to administration of the Major Institutions and Schools program; transferring administration of Major Institutions and Schools program from the Department of Neighborhoods to the Office of Planning and Community Development; amending Sections 23.69.032, 23.78.002, 23.78.006, 23.78.010, 23.78.012, 23.78.014, 23.79.004, and 23.79.006 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to short-term rental tax revenue; amending Ordinance 125872 to specify use of revenue proceeds; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to fees and charges for permits and activities of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, related fees by other departments, and technical corrections; adding a new Section 22.900G.025 to the Seattle Municipal Code; and amending Sections 22.900B.010, 22.900C.010, 22.900D.010, 22.900D.150, 22.900G.010, 22.900H.020, 22.900H.030, 22.900H.050, 22.900H.060, 22.900H.070, and 22.900H.080 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Transportation Benefit District; authorizing material scope changes to City of Seattle Proposition 1 to expand uses of revenues for transit security.
- AN ORDINANCE adopting a budget, including a capital improvement program and position modifications, for The City of Seattle for 2026; and creating positions exempt from civil service; all by a 2/3 vote of the City Council.
- City Council Changes to the 2026 Proposed Budget and the 2026 - 2031 Proposed Capital Improvement Program.
- ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
- ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS
- OTHER BUSINESS
- ADJOURNMENT
- Agenda Item
- _____________________________________________________ Jodee Schwinn, Deputy City Clerk Signed by me in Open Session, upon approval of the Council, on December 2, 2025. _____________________________________________________ Sara Nelson, Council President of the City Council
- Agenda Item
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