Property tax cap bill introduced but not yet heard

Rep. Gerry Pollet (D–Seattle) sponsored HB 2145, which would lift the 1% property tax cap for local governments. Under the bill, the cap would be tied to inflation and population growth.

The bill has been referred to the House Finance Committee, but it hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing. We know that it is difficult to generate interest in the Legislature for tackling this topic for cities and other local governments. The Legislature did raise its own property tax cap on a temporary basis to help with school funding requirements in response to the McCleary decision.

We appreciate Rep. Pollet for introducing HB 2145 and we encourage the House Finance Committee to take up the bill and advance this discussion.