Public hearing explodes over mayor’s budget

Mayor Ed Murray announced his budget proposal for 2016 with the claim that it reprioritizes human services. But nearly a hundred residents and groups who spoke during an Oct. 20 public hearing before the Seattle City Council said it fails previous promises to address the issue of homeless, poverty assistance and services to the needy. 

The more than 200 people who attended heard concerns that the proposed budget would result in cuts to advocacy services and outreach programs. Dozens of individuals lined three walls, sat on the floor and filled the lobby to hear what was said. 

According to the proposed $5.1 billion budget, $1.5 million is allocated for “additional resources for services targeting Seattle’s homeless,” funding for a 24-hour homeless youth shelter, a new 100-bed shelter, support for a women’s and children’s shelter and $240,000 for three authorized encampments. That funding is far below what community leaders say is necessary, not only to provide the current level of services but address a drastic increase in the number of homeless — a reported 21-percent jump over last year. 

Several organizations, faith-based entities, case workers, former and current homeless individuals, advocates, parents and high school students spoke out against the proposed budget, calling for increases in funding. More than half the attendees wore red scarves to show their support for funding human services, while several signs were displayed calling for the same. 

‘Moving the needle’

One statistic reported was that there were currently 3,772 homeless people living in the Seattle area. The Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC) is calling for the restoration of more than $800,000 in inflation adjustments and $71,539.50 in funding to advocacy programs. In addition, the coalition called for $5.6 million more for services for youths, seniors and fair housing, child care and community health facilities. 

“The mayor’s proposed budget does make additional incremental investments recommended by SHSC of $1.6 million,” read SHSC’s analysis of the mayor’s proposed budget. “However, his proposal falls far short of what is needed to simply maintain service levels in communities across the city or to ‘move the needle’ toward a just and thriving community.” 

According to the analysis, “moving the needle” was defined as appreciable improvement that affected whole neighborhoods, instead of resulting in only individual success stories. 

“The mayor has failed in his commitment not to cut human services,” SHCS senior director Patricia Hayden told the council. “First, he has proposed a budget that cuts the 2016 inflation adjustment on all human services department contracts from 2.3 percent to just 0.8 percent. He has not proposed enough funding to make up for increased costs due to rising the minimum wage.” 

The inflation adjustment covers cost-of-living increases included in employee contracts, something that would have a direct impact on the Human Services Department and its case workers, a figure calculated as an $817,196 cut to funding. 

Cuts to needed services

Dozens of people thanked the council for efforts already made with previous funding measures but pleaded for more assistance, recounting reports of shortfalls between people in need and available resources. Caseworkers reported what their duties entailed, outlining what was described as an overwhelming need. 

One man stated he manages a Catholic services shelter for men 55 and older, which had served more than 2,000 individuals since opening and had housed 75 individuals this year. He recalled one man who had lived in an apartment until his wife died and, unable to pay rent without her retirement, became homeless for the first time at 73. When he came to the door for help, they were forced to turn him away for lack of room.

“New Beginnings is a local shelter for domestic abuse, and they turn down 95 percent of victims in need of residential housing. That is shameful for a city that prides itself on being so socially progressive,” one resident told the council. 

She said 67 percent of King County homeless had experienced domestic violence or abuse — this testimony joined several others, including senior center advocates who helped the elderly connect with needed services. 

Other residents spoke against a cut in the amount of funding for a program that provides fresh vegetables to individuals receiving food assistance and promoting farmers markets. Called the Fresh Bucks Project, the program gives an extra $10 worth of fresh vegetables to EBT recipients, something that several residents reported had saved their lives. 

A woman in a wheelchair reported she had Type 2 diabetes but did not need medication because she was able to control her disease through her diet, which was made possible through Fresh Bucks. 

Part of the proposed budget at issue is an apparent lack of funding to mitigate the minimum wage increase approved last year, taking the average pay to $15 an hour. Nonprofit organizations, such as Goodwill, that pay their employees reported a significant hardship if measures were not provided to allow them to increase their wages. 

A second proposal

Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has submitted a proposal to leave spending where it is, while adding additional funds for specific programs. 

Called the Green Sheet, the proposal will be considered as the City Council meets over the next several weeks to identify funding priorities and determine how to submit a balanced budget for 2016. 

The budget can be viewed at seattle.gov.

To comment on this story, write to MPTimes@nwlink.com.