County officials moved forward with a property tax to support services for veterans, seniors and homeless people despite pressure from advocates to maintain a larger version originally proposed by the county executive.
The levy would charge 10 cents per $1,000 in assessed value of a property. The King County Council debated whether to pursue a 10-cent measure or a 12-cent measure proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine with the support of service providers.
The lower rate will save the average King County homeowner $9 per year, but the 12-cent levy would have raised an estimated $67 million more over the life of the six-year levy.
At 10 cents per $1,000 in assessed value, the funding package doubles the most recent iteration of the Veterans and Human Services levy passed in 2011, but it also adds an additional service category — seniors — to the list of priorities.
King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles tried to amend the ordinance to include the higher assessment, but the amendment failed in a 5-to-4 vote, with council members Kohl-Welles, Claudia Balducci, Joe McDermott and Larry Gossett in favor.
Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Twitter @AshleyA_RC
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