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Issaquah proposes using affordable‑housing sales tax for permanent homeownership and targeted capital projects
Summary
Council discussed dedicating capital from the 0.1 affordable housing sales tax to permanent homeownership partnerships, the recently signed $7.5M purchase agreement for an Opportunity Center, and proposals to leverage state and nonprofit match funding to build deeply affordable units.
Administration described a capital strategy for the affordable housing sales tax (0.1) that would prioritize permanent homeownership and partnerships with organizations such as LEO and Habitat for Humanity. The mayor said the city signed a purchase & sale agreement for an Opportunity Center at $7,500,000 with King County Housing Authority.
Staff outlined a two‑track approach: in the short term target investments at partners who can quickly bring units online (for example, converting an existing house for adults with disabilities), and in the medium term use MFTE and other levers to attract rental projects at 30–60% AMI. Council members asked staff to ensure the program focuses on households at 60% AMI and below and to look for state and philanthropic matches to reduce the city's per‑unit cost.
