Seattle, Washington, Proposition 1, Library Property Tax (August 2019)
| Proposition 1: Seattle Library Property Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| August 6, 2019 |
| Status: |
 Approved
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| Topic: |
| Local property tax |
| Related articles |
| Local property tax on the ballot August 6, 2019 ballot measures in Washington King County, Washington ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Seattle, Washington |
A library property tax measure was on the ballot for Seattle voters in King County, Washington, on August 6, 2019. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the city to levy for seven years a property tax of $0.122 per $1,000 of assessed value with annual increases of up to 1% to fund library operations, materials, and maintenance and capital improvements. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the city to levy a seven-year property tax to fund library services, thereby allowing the existing library property tax to expire without a replacement. |
City staff estimated that Proposition 1 would generate $213.3 million over seven years or $30.47 million per year. The revenue would be allocated as follows:[1]
- Operating hours: 31.6%
- $67.5 million—an annual average of $9.6 million—was earmarked for maintaining and expanding hours of operation for library branches.
- Collections and material acquisitions: 27.3%
- $58.2 million—an annual average of $8.3 million—was earmarked for maintaining and expanding collections of books and other library materials, such as digital resources.
- Technology: 13.8%
- $29.4 million—an annual average of $4.2 million—was earmarked for technology.
- Maintenance: 26.1%
- $55.7 million—an annual average of $8.0 million— was earmarked for library system maintenance.
- Administrative costs: 1.2%
- $2.5 million—an annual average of $357,000—was expected to go towards administrative costs.
Seattle voters approved a seven-year property tax levy proposition in 2012 establishing a tax to provide $123 million in revenue over seven years to fund library services.[2]
Election results
|
Seattle Proposition 1 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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147,808 | 76.00% | ||
| No | 46,665 | 24.00% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[3]
| “ |
The City of Seattle’s Proposition 1 concerns renewing a levy to maintain and improve core Library services. If approved, this proposition would sustain investments and increase spending for Library operating hours, materials, technology, children’s programming, and building maintenance, including earthquake retrofits, as provided in Ordinance 125809. Consistent with chapter 84.55 RCW, it would increase regular property taxes for seven years. The 2020 tax increase, up to $0.122/$1,000 of assessed value, would be used to compute limitations for subsequent levies, with up to 1% annual increases. Seniors, veterans, and others who qualify under RCW 84.36.381 would be exempt. Should this Levy be approved? Yes No |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Yes Seattle Libraries led the campaign in support of Proposition 1.[5]
Opposition
Please submit opponents and opposing arguments to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Background
Median property tax bills
As of 2019, the total property tax rate in Seattle was $8.3 per $1,000 in assessed value. The median property value in Seattle was $681,000 in 2019, resulting in a median total property tax bill of $5,642. The initial maximum rate proposed by Proposition 1 of $0.122 per $1,000 in assessed value applied to that median property value of $681,000 yields a tax of about $83 per year.[6]
Path to the ballot
The Seattle City Council voted 8-0 on April 22, 2019, to put Proposition 1 on the ballot through Ordinance #125809. The mayor signed the ordinance on April 26.[2]
See also
External links
Support |
OppositionEmail links to editor@ballotpedia.org. |
Footnotes
- ↑ Seattle City Council, "Ordinance #125809 Summary and Fiscal note," accessed July 2, 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Seattle City Clerk, "Ordinance #125809 Overview," accessed July 2, 2019
- ↑ King County Elections, "Ballot measures August 6 2019 Primary and Special Election," accessed June 12, 2019
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Yes Seattle Libraries, "Home," accessed July 2, 2019
- ↑ Seattle Times, "Property taxes dropping in half of King County cities after years of big increases," February 15, 2019
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