The King County Council last week approved a 0.1% sales tax increase, equal to 10 cents on an $100 purchase, to go toward criminal justice, behavioral health and public safety systems.
The sales tax hike will bring in an estimated $95 million per year, according to county officials. The tax will take effect on Oct. 1, 2025, with revenue collection beginning in January 2026.
The council voted 8-1 to approve the ordinance. Councilmember Reagan Dunn was the only vote against it. Counties or cities can adopt the tax without going to voters under a bill approved by the state Legislature earlier this year.
“Today (July 22), we took decisive action to avoid a public safety crisis,” said Council Chair Girmay Zahilay in a county council press release. “Without this revenue, the consequences would have been severe and immediate. In unincorporated King County, police service would be reduced or delayed during the moments people need help the most. More people in crisis would remain on the streets or end up in jail without access to the mental health and addiction care they need.
“Victims of crime would wait even longer for their day in court. Public defenders and prosecutors would face even more crushing caseloads, making it harder to deliver timely and fair justice. A sales tax is not our ideal tool, but the cost of inaction is far too high. I’m grateful to Executive (Shannon) Braddock for swiftly advancing this proposal, and to my colleagues for ensuring King County remains a place where safety and justice are not optional.”
The estimated impact to a median income household would be $40 annually, according to a county council spokesperson. The median household income in 2023 in King County was $122,148, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The new tax will allow King County to:
• Prevent layoffs in the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Department of Public Defense
• Sustain court operations and victim advocacy programs
• Behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use treatment
• Invest in diversion, gun violence prevention, and domestic violence response efforts
Dunn said prior to the vote that he was against the measure because taxes have gone up enough.
“King County has raised taxes by more than 40% over the last 10 years for all kinds of different things. …the state of Washington put $12 billion in new taxes through this legislative session,” Dunn said.
Dunn also questioned exactly how the funds will be spent and whether it will go to the Sheriff’s Office and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
“It’s going to be decided later what programs this goes for,” Dunn said.
The county executive will publish an annual public report detailing how the funds are allocated to strengthen safety and justice for all King County residents, according to the county council press release.
Kent considers sales tax
The Kent City Council also is considering an additional sales tax of 0.1% for public safety.
Kent would use an estimated $3.8 million per year to hire about 10 more police officers under a proposal approved in June by the council. The council voted 7-0 to approve a resolution to direct the mayor and staff to take the steps to prepare an ordinance for later in 2025 to adopt the sales tax without going to voters.
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