(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has officially announced a proposed 0.1% sales tax increase for public safety, with an emphasis on funding to double the city’s behavioral health response team.
On Thursday, the mayor announced his funding proposal totaling $39 million from the proposed public safety sales tax increase of 10 cents per $100 spent. The proposed tax hike to fund public safety priorities is part of new authority granted to cities by the state Legislature this year.
His budget proposal includes $9.5 million in funding to double the city’s Community Assisted Response and Engagement Department, or CARE, from 24 nonpolice responders to 48. The department consists of behavioral health experts who are dispatched to calls that involve people experiencing a crisis. In turn, police resources are freed up to answer other calls.
According to a news release, these responders have answered more than 2,000 calls across the city so far this year.
“Over the past two years our CARE responders have proven to be a compassionate and effective addition to our public safety system – doubling the number of responders is part of our promise for every neighbor to be able to count on the right response, at the right time,” Harrell said in a statement.
The expansion also requires an agreement with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, which Harrell said he is confident will be reached.
CARE responders currently operate from noon to 10 p.m., seven days a week. The funding intends to extend the service hours.
Seattle’s enacted 2025-26 budget included $32.8 million in funding for the CARE Department in 2025, a $6.3 million increase from $26.5 million in 2024. In 2026, the department is budgeted for $36.5 million.
Harrell’s latest proposal also adds $15 million in baseline support for the CARE Department to ensure its services despite the city facing a $143 million budget deficit.
The mayor’s $39 million proposal also funds:
$7.4 million toward expanding the Seattle Fire Department’s post overdose team and adding community treatment beds and staffing$5 million to increase Seattle’s criminal diversion program capacity$2.1 million to add new fire recruits
Harrell’s $39 million proposal and the sales tax increase will be a part of his full 2026 budget proposal, which will be released in full later this month, followed by a city council vote.
