The Select Budget Committee on Nov. 17 recommended passage of two ordinances that change allowable uses of Seattle Transit Measure (STM) revenues. One ordinance (CB121123) would make STM funds allowable for a passenger transit pilot (Ballard to Golden Gardens) when Metro cannot provide the service; the other (CB121124) would make STM revenues allowable to fund a chief transit security officer and a small program budget to support transit safety efforts.

Sponsor Council member Dan Strauss and central staff said the STM enabling legislation is needed to expend budgeted appropriations approved in the committee’s Friday balancing package. Council member Alex Saka, sponsor of the transit‑security item, invoked recent high‑profile incidents to underline urgency: “Metro driver Sean Yim was murdered in the course of duty,” Saka said, framing the change as part of a regional effort to boost transit safety.

Opponents urged caution about changing the Seattle Transit Measure’s intent. Council member Rink said she supported transit safety investments but worried this change could shift funds away from service hours, ORCA Lift program subsidies, and capital projects that the measure originally prioritized. Central staff said previous budgets had used STM funds for safety measures and that earlier investments (including a $1 million appropriation for transit ambassadors and behavioral-health teams) set precedent for modest security spending from non‑general fund sources.

Committee roll calls recommended both enabling ordinances to the full council (CB121123 and CB121124). CB121124 passed committee 7–1 (Rink opposed); the passenger‑transit enabling measure passed by the same margin. Central staff said if the enabling ordinance were voted down, already‑passed budget appropriations for these purposes could not be spent from STM funds as currently proposed.

The committee emphasized partnership with King County Metro and Sound Transit and asked staff to provide details about trade‑offs (service hours vs. security) as the proposals move to council.