Seattle, the nation and the world faced an unprecedented year in 2020, with a global public health crisis and a civil rights reckoning. During this time, the 600-plus employees in the City’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) worked behind-the-scenes to provide critical functions to keep the city operating, including managing 120 City facilities and providing $287 million in City services.

To ensure greater accountability and transparency to the public on the department’s work and spending, FAS is producing for the first time a new annual Year in Review. The review is meant to give you a glimpse of some of the behind-the-scenes work, problem-solving, intention and care that goes into our work daily here at FAS to deliver the critical services residents depend on and expect from us. (View the 2020 Year In Review here.) 

In every critical moment this year—whether it was securing Personal Protective Equipment and standing up mass COVID-19 test sites, leading the largest animal rescue in our shelter’s history, answering more calls than ever before, or working to combat systemic racism through examination of our own practices and policies, maximizing spending with WMBE firms and promoting opportunities for women and people of color in the trades—FAS employees showed up, led and could be counted on.

Thank you to our employees for all they did in 2020. And thank you to the residents of Seattle for your trust in us.

From all of us at FAS, we wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays and a safe and healthy New Year!