(The Center Square) – Seattle’s proposed 2025-2026 budget does not include potential funding from the transportation levy proposal that has yet to face Seattle voters.
Voters will decide on a $1.55 billion transportation levy in November’s general election. It is the largest tax proposal in city history.
The eight-year levy package is expected to cost a median homeowner in Seattle approximately $546 a year if passed by voters.
The current Levy to Move Seattle, which expires at the end of 2024, represents roughly 30% of the Seattle Department of Transportation budget. The median property tax bill for the expiring levy in 2024 is $300.
According to the proposed budget, the city is set to lose approximately $103 million in annual transportation funding with the current Levy to Move Seattle expiring at the end of the year.
SDOT’s proposed budget does not include any revenues from the transportation levy.
Total appropriations for SDOT would drop considerably in the next biennium if voters do not pass the proposed levy. For 2025, total appropriations would drop 30% to $495.9 million from $711.3 million in total funding for SDOT this year. It would drop even more in 2026 to $479.6 million.
Due to no new revenue streams in this budget, SDOT’s allocated funding instead focuses on capital project delivery for existing work promised in the levy.
However, this means less funding is available for maintenance on roads, bridges, transit, pedestrian and bike facilities.
“There would be fewer opportunities to design and construct capital projects, or invest in neighborhood-scale improvements such as new sidewalks or traffic calming,” SDOT Director Greg Spotts said during the Seattle City Council Select Budget Committee meeting on Monday.
According to the proposed budget, without a levy, SDOT would see large cuts to the following: new mobility initiatives, new sidewalks, bridge seismic reinforcement planning and construction, urban trails and bikeway expansion, new protected bike lanes, and neighborhood greenway investments.
Department-wide reductions to administrative functions and internal support programs are also on the table, as well as reductions in general service levels across many non-critical programs.
Seattle City Councilmembers Rob Saka and Tammy Morales expressed disappointment at the lack of an alternative budget proposal that assumed passage of the levy proposal.
Saka added that he is greatly concerned about the significant drop in funding for major rehabilitation projects, road repairs and other traffic initiatives.
If the new levy is passed, major adjustments to the proposed budget would be required that include restoring programs or projects with reduced funding in the current budget proposal.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell intends to prepare a package of changes to the SDOT budget in the form of amendments for the city council to consider.
The Seattle City Council will continue to discuss SDOT’s budget next month as the Nov. 5 general election approaches.
