Seattle Budget Follies The fiscally incontinent Seattle City Council has approved the 2005 budget. The council changed little of Mayor Greg Nickels' 2005 proposed budget, except by adding almost $6 million in spending, with most of that going to streets and bridges, libraries and social services. The council would finance most of its additions through a 1.5 percent increase in garbage, water, sewer and drainage charges. The increase would cost the average homeowner about $16 more a year. In a nutshell, the council socked every homeowner with a fee increase on essential services, in order to: a) Protect $109 opera...