To:
CC:
From:
Date:
RE:

Senior Deputy Mayor Fong, Deputy Mayor Ranganathan, Director Noble
Chief Best
Mayor Durkan
June 18, 2020
SPD 2021 Budget Review

Chief Best and I appreciate the discussions we have had over the last several days regarding the
need for fundamental cultural and structural reform of the Seattle Police Department (SPD),
especially as we work towards our 2021 proposed budget, which will be announced in three
months. While we work together with community to identify priorities, actions, and investments,
I have heard a clear desire to deeply examine SPD’s budget and develop scenarios for divestment
and demilitarization. Chief Best and I both believe we can rethink and reimagine when an
individual calls 9-1-1, and we can work towards ending use of police as a response to noncriminal activity.
While the considerations and implications of budget reductions require analysis and community
feedback, I am committed to swif tly undertaking a comprehensive review that rethinks our
approach to public safety.
Chief Best and I ask Senior Deputy Mayor Fong, Director Noble, and SPD to develop
preliminary budget options and scenarios for 20%, 30% and 50% reductions to SPD’s $410
million annual budget by the end of July. The most critical aspect of this review will be
identifying where behavioral health professionals, social workers, case managers, communitybased organizations, or civilians can better serve our community.
While developing these options, I am requesting Deputy Mayor Ranganathan to initiate a public
engagement process with the Department of Neighborhoods for community to review these
scenarios ahead of my 2021-2022 budget proposal.
As this work commences, I understand that approximately 82% of SPD’s budget is currently
personnel related costs. As we embark upon this conversation, I urge the team to consider the
following:
•
•

Examine and delineate bodies of work being done by SPD that may potentially serve
community more effectively either with civilian resources, public health resources and/or
community organizations;
Examine if bodies of work currently done by SPD should be eliminated and/or shifted to
another City department;

 •
•
•
•
•

Model and assess staffing and personnel needs associated with different types of calls for
service;
Model the sworn officers needed to respond to criminal activity and impacts on response
times, including modeling on necessary shifts in each of the precincts;
Model impacts of staff on need for overtime costs and impacts of officers working
additional hours;
Review and prioritize all functions within the department; and
Explore suspension and deferments of non-personnel costs including capital, IT,
vehicles, supplies and travel.

Until the budget analysis is complete and to allow thorough review of resources, I am hereby
directing the following immediate budget actions:
•

For budget planning purposes, we will freeze hiring of sworn officers in 2021 until a new
staffing model and plan is developed reflecting community priorities for public safety.
SPD is currently recruiting and hiring for 2020.

•

Pause the allocation of planning resources in the 2020 budget for a new North Precinct
facility.

Our budgets reflect our values, and this work will be necessary to inform our 2021-22 Proposed
Budget submitted to City Council in September. But I also know Chief’s Best vision, our
continued engagement and dialogue, and policy review and recommendations by our civilian-led
accountability partners must continue in the months to come.
As such, this effort will require multiple phases for initial budget deliberations and longer-term
fundamental structural reform of the police department. While we institute immediate changes,
this dialogue and changes will continue into 2021, especially as we increase other community
investments.
We can reimagine what policing looks like in the City so that we can increase community
investments and increase public safety.