King County budget panel adopts July revenue forecast, cites new state sales-tax expansion

The King County Budget Committee voted to adopt the county’s July revenue forecast, including estimates that reflect a 2025 state sales-tax base expansion that materially raises sales-tax projections for the next biennium.

Chief economist Elizabeth Martin Bahar presented the forecast and the committee approved Motion 202503 adopting the forecast. "I'm Elizabeth Martin Bahar, chief economist for King County. So I'm gonna present you the overview today," she said before delivering the July forecast summary.

The nut graf: The July forecast shows a small downward revision to 2025 revenue but a substantially stronger outlook in the 2026–27 biennium because the forecast baseline includes the 2025 expanded sales-tax base. County staff told the committee that without the 2025 legislation the outlook would be weaker than the March forecast; with the legislation, sales-tax receipts rise enough to move the July forecast above March for most out years.

Key facts and figures

- The July forecast shows a modest downward revision for 2025: a decline of about $9.4 million in…