(The Center Square) – King County Executive Shannon Braddock is proposing a new revenue measure to offset the county’s $150 million budget gap.
The new proposal would enact a 0.1% sales and use tax that was authorized by House Bill 2015, which state legislators approved and Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law last month. Prior to the bill’s approval, Braddock’s 200-day plan included “new revenue” stemming from House Bill 2015 that supports public safety programs.
According to a press release from Braddock’s office, the sales tax is forecasted to generate $95 million a year. Braddock argues that since nearly 75% of the general fund is dedicated to public safety and the criminal legal system, the measure would generate sufficient funding to offset the $150 million deficit and avoid cuts to essential services and programs that were previously warned.
“With approval of this proposal, we can craft a responsible budget that invests in people while preventing deep cuts,” Braddock said in a statement.
Former King County Executive Dow Constantine previously warned that tough decisions would have to be made unless the county received help from the state. Constantine has repeatedly pointed to the state’s 1% cap on property tax growth that has been in place since 2001 for the county’s budget issues.
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Braddock’s sales tax proposal could prevent major cuts to the King County Sheriff’s Office. The Center Square previously reported on a target reduction of $30.2 million from the KCSO’s office that could result in a minimal law enforcement presence in unincorporated parts of the county. The proposed $30.2 million in cuts represents roughly 80 deputy positions.
The sales and use tax proposal will have to be approved by the King County Council before it can be enacted. The allocation of the funding will be proposed in Braddock’s 2026-27 budget, which will be sent to the council for consideration in September.