OLYMPIA, Wash. — Since 2001, after voters passed Initiative 747, city and local governments have only been able to raise property taxes 1% a year.
But a bill in Olympia would raise that cap to 3%. Senate Bill 5770 is awaiting a floor vote on the Senate.
City and county officials are requesting the increase.
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay told lawmakers during a public hearing in January that their budgets cannot keep up with inflation and population growth with 1% property tax increases.
“Without SB 5770, our general fund will face some of the deepest cuts we’ve seen in decades,” said Zahilay.
He said the county would have to close public health clinics and “dramatically” scale back public health services.
Bill sponsor state Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said the law would be a “significant” change in policy for local governments. He said the law would help King County hire more prosecutors, defense attorneys, and sheriff’s deputies.
”The effect of the one percent cap over the last 20-plus years has been a dramatic restriction in the ability to county government to carry out those responsibilities,” said Pedersen.
”They just want more money and the people of the state of Washington have said no,’” said Senate Minority Leader, Sen. John Braun.
Braun said local jurisdictions can, and have, rely on higher sales taxes to increase revenue.
“This is just going to add on, whether you’re a homeowner, frankly if you’re a renter, because you’re lower in the income scale, it hurts those folks worse. It just does,” said Braun, R-Lewis County.
A spokesperson for Senate Democrats said the bill has until the end of the legislative session, March 7, to be acted upon.