Bill proposes to revise the 1% property tax cap

The bill to lift the property tax cap and tie the rate to inflation and population growth needs a hearing.

During the 2019 regular session, Rep. Gerry Pollet (D–Seattle) introduced HB 2145, which would lift the 1% property tax cap for local governments.

On January 13, HB 2145 was reintroduced and retained in current status. The bill has been referred to the House Finance Committee and will likely be scheduled for a hearing during the week of February 17.

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.

For this legislation to succeed, it is critical that you contact your legislators to let them know you support cities having the ability to raise the property tax cap and to ask them to support legislation to do so.

This spreadsheet outlines the potential growth in property tax revenue if the cap is extended to 3%.  Washington cities would see an additional $29.9 million in property tax revenue if the cap were extended to 3%. These calculations do not include banked capacity, levy lid lifts, or new construction.