Seattle City Council votes to increase sales tax, despite expressing concerns

The Seattle City Council has approved a proposal from Mayor Bruce Harrell to increase Seattle’s sales tax to fund public safety programs in the city.

Tuesday's 8-1 vote now provides a funding framework for the mayor's public safety priorities, like hiring additional staffing for the city's CARE Department. CARE, which stands for Community Assisted Response and Engagement, screens 911 calls and dispatches emergency services.

The 0.1 % increase is expected to raise $39 million in its first year, and comes as the city grapples with funding essential services in the midst of a $143 million budget shortfall.

Council President Sara Nelson voted in favor of the tax, but voiced reservations.

"I don't like that this is a regressive tax," Nelson said. "But this isn't about raising taxes on working families, this is about using public safety dollars for public safety."

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Harrell rolled out his proposal for the new tax in September, following a move from the state Legislature giving local jurisdictions the authority to impose an additional .1% local sales tax to fund public safety.

The King County Council approved their own .1% sales tax increase in July, which comes on top of the council-approved increase.

Under the new rates, consumers in Seattle would see the tax on most purchases go from 10.35% to 10.55% , an increase that pushed Councilmember Maritza Rivera to cast the lone "no" vote.

"This tax proposal is of concern to me, because basically what it does is tax poor people to help poor people," Rivera said.

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Instead of increasing the sales tax, Rivera argued, the council should look at the city's existing budget and find ways to fund safety programs.

"I hope this is the last sales tax we approve, I sincerely mean that," Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck said. "And instead, we pursue much more progressive revenue options moving forward."

In an emailed statement to KUOW, Mayor Harrell called the increased sales tax "another tool" to help the city build more effective public safety systems.

The new sales tax rate is expected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

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