MYNORTHWEST POLITICS

Seattle still faces $150 million budget shortfall

Aug 6, 2025, 2:48 PM | Updated: 2:49 pm

downtown Seattle...

The downtown Seattle skyline is viewed from a bridge over Interstate 5 in the University District. (Photo: George Rose, Getty Images)

(Photo: George Rose, Getty Images)

Just days after passing a resolution to tax rich corporations, like Amazon, Seattle said it is still facing a $150 million budget shortfall.

Seattle’s projected deficit for the next two years is $176 million.

That’s due to a combination of slow job growth and higher inflation from tariffs, according to Ben Noble, director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts.

“That combination is a bit of a recipe for disaster,” Noble said.

Changes to the national interest rate intended to offset slow growth could lead to increased inflation. Keeping the interest rate where it is — could mean stagnation. 

Tax question added to Seattle’s fall ballot

On Monday, the Seattle City Council voted to place the question of rewriting the city’s approach to taxing businesses on the fall ballot, The Seattle Times reported.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Council member Alexis Mercedes Rink’s legislation would lead to 90% of Seattle businesses paying less taxes and 10% paying more in an attempt to move the tax code away from small businesses.

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Seattle still faces $150 million budget shortfall