HB 1362, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr (D–Bothell), proposes to lift the property tax cap and tie the rate to
inflation and population growth.
Last session Rep. Gerry Pollet (D–Seattle) introduced HB 2145, which was a similar proposal but it was never
scheduled for a committee 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. Duerr for introducing HB 1362 and we encourage the House Finance Committee to take up the bill and advance this discussion.
For this legislation to be successful, it is critical that cities let your legislators know that you support raising the property tax cap and ask them to do the same and call for a public hearing on the bill.