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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor’s Simple Math Budget Released
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/23/2002 2:10:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Mayor’s "Simple Math" Budget Released
Supports the Economy, Public Safety, Transportation and Communities
Seattle – Mayor Greg Nickels released his 2003-2004 proposed budget today. The budget includes initiatives to improve Seattle’s business climate, strengthen public safety, get people and freight moving, and build communities.
Because the city faces a nearly $60 million budget gap, the mayor’s budget strives to do more with less.
"We’re going to focus on results and managing the taxpayer’s money wisely," said Nickels. "We’re cutting overhead first, direct services last. We’re setting goals to get things done smarter, faster, cheaper. We’re balancing the budget without gimmicks and insisting on simple math: you can’t spend more than you collect. If you increase spending for one program, you have to take away from another."
The mayor said his budget "makes the right choices, brings stability to city finances, and puts us on a course to make city government stronger."
He said the ongoing recession requires a fundamental change in how the city has done business, and how the city looks at budgeting.
"This is not the time for false choices of people vs. potholes, parks vs. police. This is a time for balancing priorities across a spectrum," he said. "This is a time for focusing on the city’s core responsibilities – such as police, fire, water, parks and libraries – and doing those things well. We have a choice: do certain things well, or try to do everything and not do anything well."
Specifics of the mayor’s proposals for public safety, transportation, economic and building community can be found in the attached budget highlights file.
The proposed General Fund budget for 2003 is $634.54 million and for 2004 is $659.65 million. Compared to the 2002 General Fund budget, this represents a 1 percent decrease and 3 percent increase respectively. The total proposed budget (including utilities) for 2003 is $2.885 billion and for 2004 is $2.648 billion. The 2002 total adopted budget was $2.803 billion. Most of the
$82 million increase in the total 2003 budget comes from City Light paying down its debt.
Comparing 2002 with the proposed 2003 budget, the mayor’s budget would eliminate about 400 positions supported by the General Fund.
The mayor’s budget seeks no change in the business and occupation, sales and other tax rates. The budget calls for adjustments in certain fees and charges. To fund increased investment in flood protection, water quality, replacement of transfer stations and improved maintenance of drainage and sewer systems, the proposed budget increases drainage, wastewater and sold waste rates by an average of 5.2 percent in 2003.
For detailed information, please visit the mayor’s Web site at Mayor’s Office
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Mayor’s Office
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