Last week, The King County Council approved a new sales and use tax to fund services for children and families, including shelter and rental assistance, despite concerns from Councilmember Reagan Dunn about increasing taxes while the county continues efforts to strengthen oversight of public spending.
The additional tax is one-hundredth of 1%, or 0.01%, equivalent to 1 cent on a $100 taxable purchase. It is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The tax was authorized by the Washington Legislature earlier this year and can be imposed by a county or city legislative body to provide additional services for children and families.
Revenue from the tax can be used for child care, perinatal support services, before- and after-school programs addressing mental, social and physical health, workforce capacity building, shelter and rental assistance, and client transportation. Under the ordinance, proceeds will be deposited into King County’s Housing and Community Development Fund, with specific allocations determined through the county’s budget process…