Seattle, WA- Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell is releasing the 2026 Proposed Budget. In this budget, Mayor Harrell is continuing investments and bold actions to address the needs of our communities and advance our One Seattle priorities. Mayor Harrell’s balanced budget proposal remains focused on strengthening public safety, creating housing affordability and stability, and supporting healthy, vibrant, and thriving communities amidst headwinds coming from the federal government and economic uncertainty with a balanced budget. The proposed budget seeks to continue to deliver positive progress, in addition to optimizing use of limited dollars toward key priorities and driving efficiencies.
With the investments in this budget proposal, we can work together to advance our shared One Seattle vision and an agenda that will inspire the best in our city and keep us moving forward.
For the Office of Sustainability & Environment, key highlights included in the mayor’s proposed budget include:
Enhanced Food Access Support
A major commitment of the 2026 Proposed Budget is a $12 million increase in food access investments across the city. These investments are intended to address rising food insecurity. OSE is a major partner in this Citywide effort. The Proposed Budget boosts OSE’s Fresh Bucks budget by over $6 million, allowing a significant increase in enrollment for 2026 and increasing monthly benefits to $60 from $40.
In addition, the proposed budget adds $126,000 as part of a three-year effort to expand the Lake City Farmer’s Market, expanding food access in a neighborhood that will lack access to a major grocery store following the closure of the Lake City Fred Meyer in October.
Continued Climate and Green New Deal Programming
The Proposed Budget allocates $18 million in payroll-expense tax funding to the Green New Deal across several city departments. For OSE, this includes sustained funding for Building Emissions Performance Standard & Decarbonization Grants, Clean Heat, Clean Energy Apprenticeships, Duwamish Valley Program Youth Leadership, Urban Forestry investments, and the Environmental Justice Fund.
For more information on the proposed budget, read the mayor’s press release here.
Over the next two months, the City Council will review the Mayor’s 2026 Proposed Budget. Public hearings are on October 7 and November 6. Final adoption of the budget is expected before Friday, November 21. You can also direct any questions to MOS_COMMS@seattle.gov.