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flag Seattle approves $9B 2026 budget with major housing, homelessness, and safety boosts, funded partly by new taxes amid projected deficits.

flag Seattle's budget committee approved a nearly $9 billion 2026 budget, boosting affordable housing funding to $349.5 million—over five times 2019 levels—and expanding homelessness services, including new shelters and mobile opioid response teams. flag Public safety receives $2.1 million for 20 new firefighters and $385,000 for mental health staff, with plans to hire 168 police officers in 2026. flag A $102 million shortfall is covered by new taxes, though a $140 million gap looms in 2027 if economic conditions worsen. flag South County Fire approved a $130 million budget with 30 new firefighters and a $7 monthly increase for average homeowners, while Everett passed a $613 million budget using federal funds and pausing pension contributions to avoid layoffs, despite a 1% property tax rise and ongoing fiscal strain.

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