Committee backs resolution to reserve up to 25% of proposed public-safety sales tax for addiction treatment and recovery services

The Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee voted 5-0 on July 24 to recommend a resolution that would set public‑safety funding priorities should the city implement the 0.1% local option public‑safety sales tax authorized by the 2025 state legislature. Council President Sarah Nelson said the resolution would allocate up to 25% of the revenue to “create treatment pathways” for people with substance use disorders.

The measure matters because the state bill authorizing the local option is expected to let municipalities raise roughly $35 million to $40 million a year; at that estimate a 25% earmark would be on the order of $8.75 million to $10 million annually. Committee members and multiple public commenters said the money would be used to shore up existing treatment and outreach programs and to fund capital and staffing needs for new or expanded recovery services.

The resolution does not itself increase any tax. Rather, it sets committee priorities in advance of a potential proposal from Mayor Bruce Harrell to implement the state‑authorized sales tax. Ben Noble, the city’s central staff director, briefed the committee on the resolution’s scope and the state timing constraints: the Washington State Department of Revenue processes sales tax rate changes quarterly and requires roughly 60 days’ notice to implement a change that could take effect Jan. 1.

Committee members and public commenters focused repeatedly on stabilizing LEAD, a street‑based diversion and case‑management program. Simone Walcott, senior LEAD project manager for the West Precinct, told the committee: “Over 95 percent of participants accept services, 70 percent transition to permanent housing, and 100% of eligible participants are enrolled in Medicaid.” Brandy Osborne, identified as a LEAD participant, said the program helped her obtain medical care and documents and called for dedicated funding: “We cannot afford to let what’s working fall apart.”

Speakers representing service providers summarized evidence and outcomes the city could expect if it invests in the programs on the resolution’s list. Christopher Chipoli, a senior project manager for LEAD in the north and southwest precincts, cited University of Washington and Arnold Foundation analyses showing reduced arrests and jail days for LEAD participants. Evergreen Treatment Services staff and supervisors — including Daniel Godfrey, Bridget Lopez and Chad Bakulin — described LEAD’s legal‑system coordination, outreach and housing navigation work and urged the council to stabilize the program.

Councilmember Bob Kettle (chairing the committee’s public‑safety work) said the resolution links public safety and public health and stressed the dependence many services have on Medicaid. “If the Medicaid piece goes sideways, I mean, it could be catastrophic for us in terms of our public safety posture,” Kettle said, noting federal changes could reduce available supports and increase the city’s responsibilities.

Committee discussion listed the types of uses the 25% allocation could cover: expanded access to on‑demand residential and intensive outpatient substance‑use treatment (including the city’s pilot project); enhanced recovery housing consistent with clinical best practices; funding for low‑barrier shelter case management and coordination with designated crisis responders; pilot approaches for stimulant use disorder and expanded long‑acting buprenorphine injections; job training and placement services; stabilization of diversion programs such as LEAD; and capital investments in facilities needed to deliver treatment services.

The committee voted to send the resolution to the full City Council for final consideration on July 29. Chair Nelson said, because the committee vote occurred after 1 p.m. on a Thursday, council rules require a suspension to place the item on the July 29 agenda; the committee moved and seconded that suspension and recorded no objections.

Next steps: if the mayor proposes the point‑one percent sales tax, the Department of Revenue timing and a roughly 60‑day notice window will shape the city’s ability to make the tax effective Jan. 1. The committee recommendation is advisory to council; any final tax ordinance and specific budget allocations would be adopted by the full City Council following additional executive proposals and deliberations.