King County Council approves 0.1% sales tax for criminal-justice and public-safety services

The Metropolitan King County Council voted 8–1 on July 22 to adopt a one‑tenth of one percent countywide sales-and-use tax for criminal-justice purposes, a levy authorized by the state legislature, to begin collection Jan. 1, 2026.

Council Chair Girmay Zahilay and Budget Chair Dave Dombrowski framed the measure as an emergency revenue tool to avoid deep cuts to courts, prosecution, the sheriff's patrols, public defense and a range of human services. Councilmember Joe McDermott cast the sole no vote.

The tax, proposed in Ordinance No. 2025-0169 and authorized by recent state action (House Bill 2015 and the language cited in the county file as "section 201, chapter 350, Laws of Washington 2025"), is forecast by county staff to generate about $95 million in its first year and roughly $193 million over the 2026–27 biennium. Executive staff told the council that proceeds would be deposited into the county general fund and appropriated through the biennial budget process.

Nut graf: Council members and a broad cross-section of community organizations urged the council to adopt the tax as a stopgap to prevent severe reductions in public safety and human services that the county otherwise faces because of an estimated general‑fund shortfall. Public commenters representing victim‑service organizations, homelessness providers, senior services and housing groups told…