Forecast Council Elects Strauss Chair, Elerbrook Vice Chair; Approves 2026 Work Program

The Forecast Council selected its 2026 leadership and approved the forecast office’s annual work program during its April 10 meeting in Seattle.

Councilmember Dan Strauss was nominated and confirmed as chair after a motion and roll‑call vote that recorded four ayes and no opposition; Mark Elerbrook was nominated and confirmed as vice chair by the same process. The council then moved and seconded adoption of the office’s 2026 work program, which staff described as focusing on three annual revenue forecasts (April, August and October), model improvements (especially for the reclassified B&O and the payroll‑expense tax), a planned forecast‑accuracy assessment and continued analytic support to city departments. The work program was adopted by a voice vote.

Chair Strauss closed the business part of the meeting by urging conservative planning. "Please act as if we are in a budget problem with this revenue forecast," he said, emphasizing that departments and budget offices should plan for downside risk even though the baseline was the recommended scenario. The council scheduled the August forecast presentation and agreed to hold an additional work session in June or July to examine volatile or new revenue sources in more depth.

Votes recorded during the meeting included roll‑call confirmations for chair and vice‑chair (four ayes, none opposed) and a unanimous voice vote on the 2026 work program. The council also approved minutes from Oct. 20, 2025 earlier in the session.