SB 5775 expands the authority of cities and counties to leverage the existing local public safety sales tax from voter approval to a councilmanic decision.
Watch AWC’s testimony on TVW.
This existing tax allows local governments one flexible option to help cover the costs of vital public safety needs. Cities support this approach because local elected officials are delegated the critical role of making important local budget decisions on behalf of their constituents, and are immediately accountable to the voters.
We continue to engage on this bill and others this legislative session to help address our legislative priority of providing more funding options for cities to support our shared goal of supporting public safety in our communities.
Another city-supported local sales tax for public safety bill joins the mix
February 24, 2025
SB 5775 expands the authority of counties and cities to impose the existing local public safety sales tax.
We are excited to see so many conversations and ideas taking place this session about investment in public safety and criminal justice. This bill, sponsored by Vandana Slatter (D–Bellevue), joins a crowded field of sales tax for public safety ideas this session.
The proposal expands the existing public safety sales tax. Under the existing public safety sales tax a city can impose a sales tax of up to 0.1% for public safety with voter approval. Counties may also impose a public safety sales tax of up to 0.3% with voter approval and then 40% of the revenue must be distributed to cities within the county. A number of cities and counties have already imposed this tax via voter approval. Under the existing statute 1/3 of the funds must be used for criminal justice purposes.
SB 5775 provides councilmanic authority for a city or a county to impose the tax without voter approval. If the council imposes the tax without a vote then all of the revenue must be used for public safety or criminal justice purposes. The bill allows for the councilmanic authority for a tax implemented between December 31, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2028.
We thank the sponsor of this bill and look forward to continuing conversations that address these significant investments in public safety in our communities.