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ELECTION 2025: One of the next levies you’ll vote on

February 12, 2025 3:37 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle politics

While we wait for the second round of February election returns, there’s another levy renewal headed toward the August ballot: The next version of the King County Parks Levy. This renewal proposal was announced Tuesday by King County Executive Dow Constantine (who will NOT be on that ballot, as he’s not running for re-election). This levy provides funding for a wide array of parks and other sites/programs, as detailed here. It’s a six-year levy that goes to all county voters, regardless of whether you’re in a city or not; the expiring levy funds about 80 percent of King County Parks’ budget. This chart has some of the key dollar amounts, including that the $17 cost per month for the average homeowner would represent “increase of $3.44 per household per month from the (current) King County Parks Levy.” It’s up to the King County Council to finalize it and send it to the August countywide ballot.

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24 Replies to "ELECTION 2025: One of the next levies you'll vote on"

  • Charles Burlingame February 12, 2025 (3:48 pm)

    The next levy you’ll vote on…after the King County fingerprint ID program levy. Thank Tim Eyman.

  • k February 12, 2025 (4:04 pm)

    Looking forward to saying yes!  We love our parks.  

  • Peter February 12, 2025 (5:22 pm)

    Keep in mind this covers the operating costs for the aquarium as well as the Woodland Park Zoo. 

  • WS Taxpayer February 12, 2025 (5:25 pm)

    I find it interesting that every property tax levy passes 7/3, and yet we are clambering for things like affordable housing and rent control.   Economics is hard.    [1.4M voters, 40% homeowners? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised; but continue to be baffled by the inability or unwillingness to contemplate the correlations]

    • Rhonda February 13, 2025 (12:19 am)

      WS Taxpayer, renters pay property tax levies, too. Landlords simply pass it on in increased rent, fees, skipped maintenance, etc.

      • WS Taxpayer February 13, 2025 (8:34 am)

        those greedy landlords, passing along the taxes you voted for…

        • k February 13, 2025 (9:28 am)

          You said Economics is hard.  Rhonda explained why it’s not.  Renters know they pay the taxes too.  Not sure what your point was supposed to be.  The cost of housing is far outpacing the rise in property taxes so there’s no correlation to contemplate.  We live in a state with no income tax, so everything has to be funded with car tabs and property tax.  That’s why the taxes pass, because people know things cost money, and we need the things that cost the money.  Not rocket science.

          • Citizen Joe February 13, 2025 (10:52 am)

            Best explanation yet! Totally agree with this 👍💯💯💯

      • Derek February 13, 2025 (8:46 am)

        You’re saying landlords begrudgingly and spitefully raise rents because of the city and county trying to tax them? Hmmm I’ve seen this bubble before. 

  • Sick and tired February 12, 2025 (7:58 pm)

    Does the measure increase taxes? If so, I can comfortably predict that it will pass! No questions asked!

  • wetone February 13, 2025 (10:22 am)

    I know how I’m voting….;)  based on the follow through of past promises and what actually is getting accomplished. People continue passing levy’s with no accountability. Couple examples in this area…..WS boat launch, total fubar from start and continues, Alki Point continued 4yr redesign of roadway that benefits very few, Parking redesign by boat launch. Then we have Vision Zero and Healthy Streets programs…show us the taxpayers data that justifies…… Would like to see KCP, Seattle Parks and SDOT go through audits as to where all monies are going. State county and city’s poor spending habits are forcing people on limited resources (retirees, medium income and younger workers to leave area at growing rates.  Where’s the money going???

  • Bbron February 13, 2025 (11:21 am)

    Kinda wild that folks think these levies are increasing property taxes. Tax rates have consistently decreased due to housing costs skyrocketing; these levies in no way contribute to it (except maybe increasing land values due to increased services). That and folks using those on fixed income as a shield when there are property tax reductions available and used for them. People see “levy” and just react without actual looking into numbers.

    • WSB February 13, 2025 (11:29 am)

      As noted in the story, this levy would charge property owners more they’re paying for the one that it replaces.

      • Bbron February 13, 2025 (12:37 pm)

        I should’ve clarified I wasn’t addressing this specific levy, rather the trend of all levies to match how others have been saying that all these levies in general are responsible for sky high housing costs. For those that care: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/assessor/buildings-and-property/property-value-and-information/reports/levy-rate-reports/city-tax-comparisons is where you can check this info. 2024’s tax rate was lower than the tax rate in 2018, 2020, and 2021. The last 6 years it’s fluctuated in much the same place. I wasn’t able to find the exact residential tax rates from earlier than 2018, but based on WA’s overall property tax rate it’s been decreasing since the 80’s and is currently near it’s all time low. People seem to hold onto the messaging coming from sources like Seattle Times where they say things like “[Voter-approved special levies have] played a major role in the increase in property taxes.” when that is empirically not the case.

    • oerthehillz February 13, 2025 (12:32 pm)

      Bbron: Have you looked into property tax reduction for low income/seniors? The amount they’re willing to drop is a joke. Barely worth the effort. Just so you’re aware. It’s not a shield, it’s a fact.

      • CarDriver February 13, 2025 (1:51 pm)

        What I’ve found is that us seniors just get tagged as “wealthy nimby’s”. Here in the real world there’s a LOT of us on fixed incomes. All the young progressives are happy to sweep us to the side forgetting they’re going to get old themselves and their high incomes are NOT guaranteed. We are not your enemy.

        • Bbron February 13, 2025 (4:27 pm)

          Y’all benefitted from nearly the lowest taxation in the union when you were working. This is what happens when there’s no income tax. most “young progressives” know that and want a tax code that isn’t regressive. the funding has to come from somewhere. the reason y’all are sometimes “the enemy” is because you are angry at chipping in in any capacity and won’t rally behind and income tax.

      • Bbron February 13, 2025 (2:17 pm)

        Yeah, I’m not willy-nilly with what I comment. You can apply for it as either a senior, a person on disability, or if you’re low income. It reduces your tax rate in half. You can also freeze your home value so that rising housing prices don’t impact your tax bill. For others reading: do not listen to Oerthehillz that applying for this is not worth it; it very much is.

        • oerthehillz February 13, 2025 (8:53 pm)

          Ok, I was coming from 6 locals who  have tried it and reported the disappointing details. There are so many variables and stipulations you’re making uninformed promises and haven’t even tried it for yourself. Believe me, it’s not the deal you’re thinking it is.

          • CAM February 13, 2025 (10:10 pm)

            So Bbron is uninformed because they haven’t had to apply for the tax reduction but, based on your stated source, your information is at best second hand and thus by your rules you would be just as uninformed as Bbron? Or is it just that anyone who says differently than what you think is uninformed?

  • Jay February 13, 2025 (11:26 am)

    This money is well spent. Think of all the improvements in our communities. Look at Cheasty, a project that NIMBYs vehemently opposed. After the restoration, trash from camping was removes and blackberries were cleared out, birds of prey are nesting in the park in greater numbers while kids in the community have a safe space to ride their bikes. Recreation and conservation is always money well spent. It takes a special kind of person to oppose this type of levy. $3 a month and it has a dramatically higher impact per dollar than any other government expenditures.

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