Seattle facing more budget cuts next year

Police, fire and all other departments in Seattle have been asked to find budget cuts for next year. Mayor Mike McGinn has instructed every office to look for trims because of lagging city revenues.

His budget office estimates the city’s revenue growth from last year to 2014 will be 57-percent of what it was between 1995 and 2000. The city expects that to mean at least $20 million in cuts in 2012.  

Essential safety services are bracing for the smallest reductions, but still have to identify 3 to 6-percent in cuts. Other departments are preparing for between 4 and 8-percent.

McGinn is also considering whether to consolidate some offices. They are:

• Neighborhoods
• Economic Development
• Housing
• Arts and Cultural Affairs
• Sustainability and Environment

Bernie Matsuno, director of the Department of Neighborhoods, is leading a feasibility study to evaluate how much the offices overlap and whether the city will save money by combining them. 

More information on the possible consolidations and budget cuts is available in a video of the mayor's presentation.