Federal Way council advances 0.1% public‑safety sales tax to second reading after long debate

Summary

The council voted 6–1 to forward an ordinance to impose a 0.1% local sales‑and‑use tax for criminal justice and public safety to its April 7 second reading, following hours of public comment and debate about the tax's regressive impact, timing and how the revenue would be used alongside state HB 2015 grant funds.

Federal Way City Council moved forward a proposed ordinance to add a one‑tenth of one percent local sales‑and‑use tax dedicated to criminal justice and public safety to a second reading on April 7, voting 6–1.

The proposed ordinance (Council Bill 934) would raise the city's sales tax rate by $0.10 per $100 of purchases and is authorized under RCW 82.14.345 and related provisions of HB 2015. City Administrator Brian Davis told the council the tax is intended to address mounting public‑safety costs and an estimated near‑term shortfall; he presented forecasts showing public‑safety expenses growing faster than current sales‑tax receipts.

Why it matters: Council members and members of the public framed the decision as a tradeoff between raising dedicated revenue for police, prosecution and related…

Federal Way council advances 0.1% public‑safety sales tax to second reading after long debate

Summary

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