City Council committee to review Seattle mayor's proposed budget

A Seattle City Council committee will discuss Seattle Mayor Ed Murray's new budget proposal Thursday.

One of the biggest items in that budget is money for the homeless.

Murray's budget for next year is asking for $12 million for the homeless, a number some don't want to swallow.

Other big numbers are slated for public safety and affordable housing.

On Thursday, the Select Budget Committee will be looking at the mayor's 2017-2018 budget.

If it gets passed, it will move on for a full council vote.

Murray has called homelessness a humanitarian crisis and wants $12 million more on top of a budget for homeless already at about $50 million.

Some of that money will go to converting an existing shelter to a 24-hour homeless help center.

Other money in the new budget is funding for the hiring of nearly 200 Seattle police officers by 2020.

But activists are calling for more money for affordable housing instead of police.

More money in the budget is also outlined for transportation, including the Seattle City Connector and walking and bike paths.

Cox Media Group