Seattle voters want their elected representatives to levy new taxes on wealth so Jumpstart revenue can flow to housing

Today, the Seattle City Council is expected to vote on its 2025 budget, which will include a proposal from Mayor Bruce Harrell to permanently allow Jumpstart revenue from the city’s payroll expense tax to flow into the general fund, instead of the specific purposes for which the tax was supposed to benefit when it was established several years ago.

NPI’s most recent survey of the Seattle electorate, which fielded a couple weeks ago, finds that only a quarter (25%) of Emerald City voters back the mayor’s proposal, with nearly-three fifths (58%) expressing support for an alternative approach — namely, levying new taxes on wealth that would keep essential public services funded and allow better than anticipated Jumpstart revenue collections to flow to the vital priorities that former Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s enabling legislation specified, like housing.

17%, meanwhile, said they were not sure.

The preference for the alternative approach is overwhelming, easily exceeding a 2:1 ratio. It is very clear where Seattle voters stand.

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/11/seattle-voters-want-their-elected-representatives-to-levy-new-taxes-on-wealth-so-jumpstart-revenue-can-flow-to-housing.html