The Seattle City Council approved a budget for 2022 that the council says will reduce funding allocated to the police department without cutting the department's functionality.
The council approved the $355.5 million budget on Monday in an 8 to 1 vote, according to The Associated Press.
The plan is notably smaller than the 2020 budget of $401.8 million and continues a trend of decreases since a $363 million budget was announced in 2021. It does, however, leave room for new hires, as it provides funding for 1,357 officers. The Seattle Police Department currently has 1,120 officers, the AP noted.
Seattle's outgoing Mayor Jenny Durkan (D) was critical of the plan and the message it sends.
“Now is not the time to both be cutting officers also but every time council acts, they’re telling officers that are here today if they’re valued or not,” Durkan said, per the AP. “Mayor-elect Harrell ran on adding more officers and I’m trying to set him up for success as much as I can.”
