SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council approved a 0.1% public safety sales tax increase Tuesday.
The tax is expected to generate $39 million in 2026, with nearly one-quarter of that funding directed toward addiction recovery services. Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson, who sponsored the measure, called it a “progressive investment that will save lives.”
“These progressive investments will save lives and fill gaping holes in our response to Seattle’s drug crisis,” Nelson said following the 8-1 vote on Council Bill 121083. “I’ve led the charge to put addiction treatment at the center of the city’s agenda because the fentanyl epidemic and addiction are root causes of our public safety and chronic homelessness challenges.”
Under the plan, up to 25% of the new tax revenue, about $7.5 million, will go toward treatment and recovery programs. The mayor’s spending proposal incorporates many of Nelson’s priorities, including expanding access to residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment, improving recovery housing options, stabilizing diversion programs like Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), and funding facility upgrades such as at the Thunderbird Treatment Center on Vashon Island. Under new rates, Seattle’s sales tax is projected to be 10.55% in 2026.
“Investing this new revenue in recovery services isn’t just a fiscally responsible decision—it is fundamentally the morally right thing to do,” Nelson said.
One councilmember voted against the measure, Councilmember Maritza Rivera who represents Seattle’s 4th District. We has reached out to the councilmember for comment on her vote.
The tax follows new state authority granted under House Bill 2015, which allows local jurisdictions to add a 0.1% sales tax for public safety. With the proposed increase, Seattle’s sales tax is projected to be 10.55% in 2026.
The bill now heads to Mayor Bruce Harrell for his signature. Washington’s Department of Revenue requires jurisdictions to adopt the tax before Oct. 18 to be eligible for the full revenue next year.
트위터 공유: 시애틀 시의회 공공 안전을 위한 0.1% 판매세 인상 승인 20...