King County Council votes to add 0.1 sales tax to maintain criminal justice, behavioral health, and public safety

The King County Council approved an additional 0. 1% sales tax aimed at enhancing public safety and essential services amid a $160 million budget shortfall. With an 8-1 vote, the measure, co-sponsored by Council Chair Girmay Zahilay and Budget Chair Rod Dembowski, earmarks all generated revenue for criminal justice, behavioral health, and public safety systems. Zahilay warned that without this funding, critical services would face severe cuts, delaying police response and increasing the burden on public defenders and prosecutors. The tax aims to prevent layoffs and sustain court operations, victim advocacy programs, and behavioral health services.

This legislation follows House Bill 2015, which enables local governments to adopt public safety sales taxes. King County met all required standards for public safety and accountability to implement this measure. The tax will take effect on October 1, 2025, with revenue collection beginning in January 2026. An annual report will detail fund allocation to ensure transparency and accountability for King County residents.