County council proposes sales tax hike to fund public safety

The Metropolitan King County Council will take public testimony on proposed legislation to send to voters a two-tenths of one percent sales tax increase to keep current levels of public safety, criminal justice and related services on Monday, May 17 at 1:30 pm in the Council Chambers on the 10th floor, of the King County Courthouse at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA.

The meeting will also be carried LIVE on King County TV, Comcast and Broadstripe Cable channel 22, and streaming online.

This will be the third public hearing on the County Executive’s proposal to place a local option sales tax increase for criminal justice and related services on the August ballot. If adopted by the voters, the increase would generate approximately $47 million in revenue for King County in 2011, allowing the County to maintain current service levels of programs for the Sheriff’s Office, the King County Prosecutor, and the Superior and District Courts. Under state law, an additional $30 million in revenue from the levy would also be allocated to the 39 cities within King County based on their population.