Seattle Mayor's Proposed $7 Million Fire Overtime Cut Sparks Budget Fight; Council Warns Outlying Neighborhoods Could Wait Longer
SEATTLE, Washington — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's proposed 2027 budget would cut firefighter overtime funding by $7 million, sparking heated debate at the city council. Council President Dan Strauss has countered with a proposal to restore and increase firefighter overtime funding, warning the cut could slow emergency responses in outlying neighborhoods served by a single fire company. City Hall says the overtime cut is one of several measures to trim spending and meet the legally required balanced budget, and part of moving away from past budget practices. Council members point to a September incident to illustrate the stakes, in which a 57-year-old man was found collapsed in a Magnolia park and response speed was a matter of life and death. The budget talks also cover gender-based violence programs and several council priority items; the council has held multiple public hearings and will hear over the next two weeks from departments covering public safety, libraries, housing, arts, civil rights, land use, parks, transportation and homelessness. A final budget is expected within the coming weeks.
Source: Seattle Focal
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：西雅图消防车（资料图）。Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 3.0。 / Photo: Seattle fire truck (file photo). Via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
