A deep-blue Washington county raised taxes on the same day it appointed an inspector general to root out the widely reported fraud from within its’ government spending programs.
King County Council approved a new ordinance on Oct. 6, adding a penny to every $100 in taxable purchases, Seattle Red reported. The new sales tax sends revenue into a program managed by the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) — the same department that’s been under fire for reported fraud and funding mismanagement over the past year, requiring a new Inspector General Division.
The county was allowed to pass this ordinance because of Washington state’s Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2442. Democratic lawmakers passed the bill in February in a party-line vote, allowing counties to impose the 0.01 percent tax by ordinance.…