King County committee advances revised parks levy proposal after hours of testimony and amendments

The Metropolitan King County Council's Budget and Fiscal Management Committee on March 26 advanced a revised parks levy allocation plan that would place a property-tax levy renewal on the August 5, 2025 ballot, the committee chair said after extensive public testimony and amendments.

Chair Dombowski said the striking amendment reduced the levy rate by one cent per $1,000 of assessed value and shaved about $56 million from the executive's original proposal to make the package more affordable while keeping key city pass-throughs and priority projects. "The striking amendment...lowers the proposed increase by 20% or a penny per thousand," he said during the meeting.

The measure before the committee would fund King County Parks operations and maintenance, grants to cities, parks and nonprofit institutions, regional trails and capital projects. Committee staff said the levy as amended would generate about $1.45 billion over six years; staff also presented corrected park maintenance figures showing $466.6 million would be needed to maintain current service levels, accounting for inflation.

Public testimony at the meeting lasted more than two hours and included dozens of organizations and residents urging funding for local projects. Nigel Herbig, mayor of Kenmore,…