Council staff brief committee on $1.5 billion proposed parks levy renewal and remaining questions

Council staff presented an initial, detailed briefing on Feb. 26 about the executive’s proposed 2026–2031 parks levy renewal, a six‑year ballot proposition the executive estimates would raise approximately $1.5 billion if approved by voters on Aug. 5, 2025.

Sherry Shue and council central staff summarized the ordinance language and staff analysis. The proposed levy ordinance would set an initial levy rate of 24.43¢ per $1,000 of assessed value with annual adjustments tied to the prior‑year consumer price index plus estimated population growth. Staff estimated the levy would raise roughly $1.5 billion over six years compared with the current levy’s forecasted $851 million for an equivalent period. For the median King County single‑family home staff calculated an annual levy cost of about $206 under the proposal versus about $166 under the current levy — a roughly $40 annual increase for the median homeowner.

The ordinance text includes several "off‑the‑top" allocations and broad distribution rules. Explicit maximum off‑the‑top items in the ordinance include up to $42 million for Woodland Park Zoo, up to $15 million for the Seattle Aquarium, up to $9 million for Friends of Waterfront Park, up to $2.5 million for the Memorial Stadium project, up to $30 million for Parks Capital and Open…