A parks and recreation property tax measure was on the ballot for voters in King County, Washington, and a library property tax measure was on the ballot for voters in Seattle. The measures were approved by 67% and 73% of voters, respectively, according to the unofficial election night report. After the election night report, 40% of ballots were left to be counted.
Proposition 1 in Seattle authorized the city to levy for seven years a property tax of $0.122 per $1,000 in assessed property value with annual increases of up to 1% to fund library operations, materials, and maintenance and capital improvements. City staff estimated that Proposition 1 would generate $213.3 million over seven years or $30.47 million per year. Yes Seattle Libraries led the campaign in support of Proposition 1. The measure’s property tax rate represents about $83 on the property tax bill for a house assessed at $681,000, which is the median assessed property value in Seattle in 2019. A library property tax approved by Seattle voters in 2012 was set to expire in 2019.
Proposition 1 in King County authorized the county to levy for six years a property tax of $0.1832 per $1,000 in assessed property value to replace an expiring tax. The proposition included annual increases and dedicated revenue to parks, recreation, open space, public pools, zoo operations, and aquarium capital improvements. Yes on KC Prop 1 led the campaign in support of Proposition 1. The measure’s property tax rate represents about $90 per year on the property tax bill for a house assessed at $492,000, which is the median assessed property value in unincorporated King County in 2019.
