Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell is releasing the 2026 Proposed Budget. In this budget, Mayor Harrell is continuing investments and bold actions to address the needs of our communities and advance our One Seattle priorities. Mayor Harrell’s balanced budget proposal remains focused on strengthening public safety, creating housing affordability and stability, and supporting healthy, vibrant, and thriving communities amidst headwinds coming from the federal government and economic uncertainty with a balanced budget. The proposed budget seeks to continue to deliver positive progress, in addition to optimizing use of limited dollars toward key priorities and driving efficiencies.
With the investments in this budget proposal, we can work together to advance our shared One Seattle vision and an agenda that will inspire the best in our city and keep us moving forward.
For the Seattle Police Department (SPD), the Mayor’s proposed budget provides resources to improve capacity for SPD to respond to the most pressing public safety concerns and create a safer Seattle. Following a year of historic hiring and a significant decline in separations, the department saw a net add of 93 officers above attrition. The proposed budget restores ongoing funding for these positions along with funding for new officers planned in 2026 and additional civilian positions in the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Investigative Support Unit. The RTCC uses information from the recently installed CCTV camera network to triage and coordinate patrol/emergency response to crime events. The budget also includes funding to expand CCTV to Capitol Hill and the Stadium District.
The following is a summary of SPD’s key changes in the 2026 Proposed Budget:
- Add Funding for Sworn Hiring ($26M) – This item restores ongoing funding for police officer positions hired in 2025 and anticipated in 2026.
- Add Position Authority for Real-Time Crime Center (9.0 FTE) – This item adds position authority for 9.0 FTE to establish a fully staffed 24/7 Real Time Crime Center that will integrate dispatch, camera, officer location, 911 calls, and records management systems to provide situational awareness to increase officer and community safety and investigate incidents.
- Add Position Authority for Investigative Support (7.0 FTE) – This item adds position authority for 7.0 FTE in the Criminal Investigations Bureau to assist SPD Detectives with homicide, robbery and gun crime investigations.
- Add Funding for CCTV Camera Expansion ($735K) – This item adds funding for the implementation of additional closed-circuit television cameras in Capitol Hill and the Stadium District in preparation for FIFA World Cup.
- Add Funding for Public Disclosure Unit ($579K) – This item adds ongoing funding for 4.0 FTE Public Disclosure Officers (PDO) to support SPD’s high volume of public disclosure requests.
- Add Funding for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer ($212K) – This item adds ongoing funding for 1.0 FTE DEI Officer to oversee and advise on department initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- General Fund Reduction (($6.2M)) – This item reduces funding in various budget accounts to help offset the City’s projected revenue shortfall. This reduction was designed to have minimal impacts on direct public safety services.
NEXT STEPS AND COMMUNICATION ABOUT BUDGET
Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s 2026 Proposed Budget. Public hearings are on October 7 and November 6. Final adoption of the budget is expected before Friday, November 21. Read more about the Mayor’s proposed budget here: Mayor Harrell Announces 2026 Budget Proposal with Focus on Affordability, Public Safety, Homelessness, and Protecting Local Priorities from Federal Threats – Office of the Mayor, and you can also direct any questions to MOS_COMMS@seattle.gov.