Balanced budget still leaves Seattle's structural deficit

What happened

The Board adopted a $1.34 billion general-fund budget for 2026-27 using spending reductions, school staffing changes, fund balance, transportation efficiencies, capital-interest transfers, rebates, and delayed rainy-day-fund repayment.

Why it matters to families

Those steps close this year's gap, but the district says the recurring deficit will persist without further revenue or operating changes.

The evidence

The official adopted-budget page states both that the 2026-27 budget is balanced and that the structural deficit persists, then lists the recurring reductions and one-time measures used to close the gap.

The source