(The Center Square) – Members of the Seattle City Council are proposing legislation that would send general funds to its Seattle Channel, despite continuing budget issues over the next three years.
Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson is proposing legislation that directs Mayor Bruce Harrell’ office to establish an ongoing, dedicated funding plan for Seattle Channel operations and capital expenses.
The plan would use funding sources that could include a minimum of 50% – $1.7 million – of existing Cable TV Franchise Fee revenues, departmental cost allocations, and appropriated general fund dollars.
However, the general fund appropriations would exclusively be used to cover public meeting production costs.
“The Seattle Channel needs sustainable and dedicated funding going forward and Seattle Channel employees and content providers need certainty,” Nelson said in a statement. “We don’t want to lose the talent that has made the small but mighty Seattle Channel the indispensable public service that it is.”
The Seattle City Council is currently working to pass a balancing budget. Currently, the proposal increases the projected general fund deficit in 2027 to $101 million.
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss proposed legislation as part of the 2025-2026 budget balancing package that restores $1.6 million in reductions to the Seattle Channel that were proposed by Harrell.
Harrell proposed cuts to six positions within the Seattle Channel, as the program continues to see revenues from the Cable Television Franchise Fund decline.
The franchise fund collected revenue from cable subscription fees, but fewer people are viewing traditional cable television.
In 2023, the fund brought in $6.1 million to the city. In 2024, it’s estimated to have dropped to $5.5 million in 2024 and will continue to decrease to approximately $5.46 million in 2026.
Strauss also proposed a statement of legislative intent that requests the creation of a workgroup recommending ways to better support the Seattle Channel’s independence.
The workgroup is requested to deliver recommendations to city leaders by June 30, 2025.
Strauss’s legislation requests that the mayor’s office submit legislation, informed by the workgroup, to the city council by Sept. 3, 2025.
The full Seattle City Council is expected to take a final vote on both Nelson’s and Strauss’s legislation on Nov. 21.
