November 2019

By Jean Godden

Seattle City Councilmembers have some grandiose plans for how to spend the city's $6.5 billion budget next year. Some ideas councilmembers (CMs) are proposing make good sense, but other ideas leave citizens wondering what planet they're living on.

When the council's first 77 budget revisions were tallied, Budget Committee Chair Sally Bagshaw figured that suggested additions tallied $589,754,005. That's about a third the size of the city's general fund budget.

Take proposals from CM Kshama Sawant (who has a had come-from-behind victory). Among her proposals, she wants all public transit in Seattle -- buses, light rail and street cars -- to be free. She has a bunch of ideas for how to afford her various schemes. She proposes axing the Navigation Team that conducts cleanup of illegal encampments and helps find shelter for the homeless.

If you would like to obtain some well considered financial advice, contact Sarah Cecil 206-938-6017.

Brought to you by Sarah Cecil Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments.

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Update 3:50pm Nov. 8

With more than 50% of the vote counted Lisa Herbold was well over the top for victory with 18,460 votes over Phil Tavel who garnered 14,764 in the District 1 Seattle City Council race.

Dan Strauss in Ballard's District 6 with nearly 54% counted had earned 21,889 votes to opponent's Heidi Wills total of 17,275.

In Des Moines the City Council Position 2 race JC Harris lead over Luisa Bangs shrank to just 69 votes with 37% of the vote totalled so the lead could easily change. 

Also in Des Moines Position No. 6 finds Anthony Martinelli grew his slim margin to a 112 vote lead over Rob Back.

Update 5:40pm Nov. 7

Incumbent Lisa Herbold has extended her lead over challenger Phil Tavel in the District 1 Seattle City Council race. Herbold in the latest count has 13,330 votes for  53.53% of the vote to Tavel's 11,482 votes or 46.11 %.