County Council Considers Proposal To Offset Public Safety Deficit

The King County Council will consider a proposal today that could generate critical new revenue to help close a projected $160 million shortfall in the county’s General Fund for 2025–2026.

Today’s vote will decide whether the Council moves forward with implementing a local 0.1% sales tax, a measure aimed at addressing what county leaders have called a looming public safety crisis. If approved, the tax is expected to raise enough revenue to avoid deep cuts to staffing and services across key public safety functions—including law enforcement, public defense, prosecution, courts, and violence prevention programs.

The proposal is sponsored by Council Chair Girmay Zahilay and Budget Chair Rod Dembowski. Both councilmembers urged swift action in a recent letter to King County Executive Shannon Braddock, calling on the Council to enact the new tax authority granted by the state legislature earlier this year.

Without new revenue, county officials warn, King County faces severe budget shortfalls that could significantly impact emergency response times, court operations, and public safety programs.

“This proposal is about protecting the essential services that keep our communities safe and our justice system functioning,” Zahilay and Dembowski wrote in their joint letter. “We cannot afford to let a structural budget gap undermine the progress we’ve made in public safety, behavioral health, and violence prevention.”

King County’s General Fund primarily supports law enforcement, courts, public defense, jails, and related programs. Officials estimate that without intervention, the $160 million deficit would force widespread service reductions, including layoffs of prosecutors, public defenders, sheriff’s deputies, and cuts to violence prevention initiatives.

The proposed 0.1% sales tax—equivalent to 10 cents on a $100 purchase—would provide the revenue needed to stabilize funding for these critical services. Unlike other taxes requiring voter approval, this measure can be enacted by a simple majority vote of the County Council under authority granted by House Bill 2015, which the Washington State Legislature passed in April.

If adopted, the revenue from the tax would be used to maintain staffing levels for prosecutors, public defenders, and sheriff’s deputies; sustain court operations and victim advocacy programs; support behavioral health services and diversion efforts; and invest in gun violence prevention and domestic violence response programs.

Proponents of the measure say it’s a necessary step to protect public safety amid mounting financial pressures on the county budget.

“Our goal is to prevent devastating cuts that would harm the safety and well-being of our residents,” Dembowski said. “This is a responsible approach that allows us to preserve core services while maintaining fiscal stability.”

In recent months, county leaders have warned that absent new funding, the public could see reduced emergency response capacity, delayed court proceedings, and cuts to behavioral health and violence prevention programs. The proposed tax would provide a dedicated funding source to help sustain those services in the years ahead.

Councilmembers backing the proposal point to the critical role the General Fund plays in supporting King County’s justice system and public safety infrastructure.

“The General Fund is the backbone of our justice system,” Zahilay said. “It’s what allows us to staff our courts, fund our prosecutors and public defenders, and ensure timely response by law enforcement. Preserving those functions is essential for public trust and community safety.”

The push for the new sales tax comes after lawmakers in Olympia approved HB 2015, which grants counties the authority to adopt a 0.1% sales and use tax specifically to support public safety and criminal justice services. Under the law, counties can enact the tax by council vote without sending the measure to the ballot.

Supporters also highlight that the measure would allow the county to avoid more drastic cuts that could exacerbate public safety challenges, particularly at a time when demand for services like behavioral health support and violence prevention remains high.

Opponents of the tax, however, have expressed concern about increasing the financial burden on residents, particularly amid economic uncertainty. Some critics argue that the county should prioritize budget reforms and spending cuts over new taxes.

The Council is expected to debate those perspectives during today’s session before taking a vote on whether to advance the proposal. The council meeting will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the King County Courthouse, 10th Floor, 516 Third Ave., Seattle. The meeting will also be available via livestream on King County TV.