Balducci issues statement following vote to save Harbor Island Studios

November 18, 2025

When recent budget changes threatened to shutter Harbor Island Studios, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci stepped forward Tuesday with an amendment to keep the film studio alive. Councilmembers unanimously supported the amendment to the next two-year King County budget during a vote that came after an outpouring of public support for saving the studio.

Following the passage of the amendment to save Harbor Island Studios from closure, Balducci issued the following statement:

“Since the end of the pandemic, Harbor Island Studios has been a hub for creativity, supporting local film and media production in King County. I’m grateful to my Council colleagues’ support to keep Harbor Island Studios open. To be clear, this is a stopgap measure, providing short-term funding to sustain operations and maintenance. We will need to work urgently to find a future, sustainable funding source to maintain this resource.

“This is about more than just a building—it’s about preserving opportunity, creativity, and the future of our local film industry. Today’s vote reflects a commitment to protecting spaces that nurture local talent and strengthen King County’s cultural identity, but the work to save Harbor Island Studios has just begun. I look forward to collaborating with our local film industry partners, funders, and others to find a path to create a sustainable funding model so that Harbor Island Studios can continue to grow and serve as a hub for our region’s creative economy.”

The amendment waives the first six months of rent, along with a request for analysis of the economic impact of the studio along with a determination of fair market rental value for the lease moving forward. Additionally, County Executive-Elect Zahilay said during debate that he would not propose any future general fund expenditures to maintain Harbor Island Studios.