Council sends sales tax proposal to voters The Council on July 26 approved sending to the voters in November a proposal to fund criminal justice services by raising the sales tax in King County by two-tenths of one percent. If adopted, the County revenue raised by the measure would go entirely to public safety services and include funds for the replacement of the aging Youth Services Center. The measure repeals and replaces an earlier ballot proposal. If approved by voters, the measure provides 60 percent of revenue to the County, which would generate approximately $35 million in 2011 and $48 million in 2012, the first full year the tax would be collected. Thirty-nine cities within King County would split the other 40 percent based on their population. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.
One-tenth of one percent of the proposed sales tax increase would sunset after three years. The second one-tenth of one percent would sunset in 20 years to allow the County to sell long-term debt to finance the construction of the Youth Center.
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Committee urged to send public safety sales tax ballot measure to full Council  The young clients of the Healthy Start Program, which assist teen parents and their children, were joined by other human service agencies and representatives of criminal justice programs in urging the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee to send to the full Council a proposal asking voters to increase the sales tax by 2/10th of one percent to keep current levels of public safety and health services.
The May 13 meeting was the last hearing before the Budget Committee. The County Council is scheduled to take testimony on the proposal next Monday, May, 17, starting at 1:30 p.m.
Read the staff report given at the May 13 Budget Committee hearing.
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Budget Committe holds first hearing on public safety sales tax ballot measure
 On April 29, the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee received its first briefing on the proposal introduced by the Executive to place on the August ballot a measure to increase the local option sales tax by 2/10th of one percent.
Committee members received from Budget staff the first report on the proposal, which if approved, would generate approximately $47 million in revenue for King County in 2011, allowing the County to maintain current service levels of programs for the Sheriff's Office, the King County Prosecutor and the Superior and District Courts.
Budget Committee Chair Julia Patterson said the committee will take public testimony on the proposal at its Tuesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 13 meetings.
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Proposed public safety sales tax ballot measure sent to Council
Budget Chair Julia Patterson and Council Chair Bob Ferguson joined County Executive Constantine and the County's elected public safety officials April 28 as the Executive announced that he has sent to the Council legislation to place on the August ballot a measure to increase the local option sales tax by 2/10th of one percent. Councilmember Patterson will hold the first briefing of the proposal at a special meeting of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, Thursday, April 29.
If adopted by voters, the increase would generate approximately $47 million in revenue for King County in 2011, allowing the County to maintain current service levels of programs for the Sheriff's Office, the King County Prosecutor and the Superior and District Courts. An additional $30 million in revenue from the levy would also be allocated to the 39 cities within King County based on their population.
Criminal Justice agencies present challenges for public safety system in 2011 County Budget Sheriff Sue Rahr, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, joined by District and Superior Court Presiding Judges Barbara Linde and Bruce Hilyer warned members of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee of the impact the $60 million general fund deficit for 2011 will have on public safety.
In the April 14 briefing, the elected leaders of King County's criminal justice system said cutting their budgets could lead to the elimination of District Court probation services, reduced capacity for criminal investigations, and the elimination of sheriff's deputies. Read more.
April 14 presentationsExecutive Budget Office
King County Sheriff
King County Superior Court
King County District Court
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