Veterans Tax Levy To Triple Under Constantine's Proposal

RENTON, WA - A proposal to renew the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy would triple the property tax to pay for for social services for veterans and seniors, according to County Executive Dow Constantine. Voters last renewed the levy in 2011, but it is set to expire on Dec. 31. If King County voters renew the levy this year, the property tax would triple to 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which would mean the owner of a $300,000 home would pay about $3.60 per month toward the tax.

Here's more on the proposal from Constantine:

King County Executive Dow Constantine [Monday] announced an initiative to strengthen the county’s capacity to connect veterans to opportunity, help veterans, seniors, and vulnerable populations gain or maintain affordable housing, and add new services to help the region's rapidly growing senior population.
If approved by voters in November, the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy will replace the existing levy, which will expire Dec. 31. The current levy – which King County voters overwhelmingly renewed in 2011 – has connected hundreds of thousands of veterans, active service members and vulnerable populations to housing, employment and treatment since it was first approved in 2005.

“It is an honor for us to serve the men and women who have served our country. When asked, King County voters have enthusiastically agreed. This levy renewal focuses on the health and welfare of veterans and others in need. It ensures that we follow best practices and support programs that get the results we all want,” said Executive Constantine. “Demographic trends are clear: our region is aging. By helping people remain in good health and active in the community, we can ensure that all residents enjoy their lives to the fullest.”

The rate would be 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. For the owner of an average home in King County – currently about $450,000 – that would mean an increase of about $3 per month, going from $1.50 per month to $4.50 per month.

The levy is on track to provide services to more than 200,000 clients since it was renewed in 2011. Since 2006, it has contributed capital to the creation of more than 2,000 units of affordable housing. Since 2012, an average of 780 clients were stabilized in programs each year, reducing the number of emergency room visits and jail bookings, avoiding $7 million in costs.

The next version of the levy will continue to constantly evaluate each program to ensure it’s delivering the desired outcomes, and results will continue to be posted online to continue transparency and accountability. There will be a competitive process to determine which service providers receive funding under the new levy, just as there was when the levy was created.

Image via King County