HB 1362, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr (D–Bothell), proposes to lift the current 1% property tax cap and instead tie the rate to inflation and population growth.

AWC recognizes the difficulty in generating interest within the Legislature for tackling this topic on behalf of cities and other local governments. The Legislature has already raised its own property tax cap on a temporary basis to help with school funding requirements in response to the McCleary decision. We urge you to contact your Representatives now and let them know how the arbitrary 1% cap on property tax has created unsustainable budget challenges.

A cap that doesn’t account for inflation and population growth pushes the burden of funding government onto a more volatile and regressive taxing mechanism. A sustainable cap will benefit our communities by improving cities’ abilities to fund services and lessening the reliance on other taxes.

For this legislation to be successful, it is critical that cities let legislators know you support raising the property tax cap to a number less arbitrary than the current 1% cap. Please sign in to state your position into support of HB 1362 prior to the House Finance committee hearing on March 18 (You don’t need to testify, just choose the state your position option). We need as many as city officials as we can to show support.

It is critical that cities let legislators know you support raising the property tax cap.

For more information on how to communicate strategically with your legislators, visit our strong city advocacy guide and learn how to testify remotely.

Dates to remember

HB 1362 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Finance Committee on March 18 at 8 am.