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APRIL 17, 2024
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VOL. 105, NO. 16
Survey shows no support for new taxes as Seattle faces growing budget deficit
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
Courtesy Kendall Rock Photography Claudia Balducci, Sarah Reyneveld, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Sarah Perry, and Teresa Mosqueda celebrating former King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles as the inaugural recipient of the Women Uplifting Women Award at March 21 at the King County Chinook Building.
Gratitude, empowerment at King County Council By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing Writer
Jeanne Kohl-Welles is one of Seattle’s greatest public servants. Her time in office began when she was appointed as a State Representative in 1992 and concluded last year when she retired from her seat on King County Council. She served in both the Washington House and
Senate, and was elected to the King County Council in 2016. Kohl-Welles has been known as a tireless champion for Title IX, lowincome housing, tenant’s rights, childcare subsidies, and women in politics. During last month’s celebration of Women’s History Month, a tradition she introduced in her first year on the council, she was honored as the inaugural recipient of the council’s Women
Uplifting Women Award. Sarah Reyneveld is the acting chair of the King County Women’s Advisory Board and Managing Assistant Attorney General. As a woman who has personally been uplifted by Jeanne KohlWelles, Reyneveld said she was “honored to help present the Women Uplifting Women Award
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Survey results show Seattle officials may not receive much support from taxpayers as the city deals with a growing budget deficit. The Seattle Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts presented new data on Monday that revealed that the city’s general fund is now expected to be $44.7 million higher than originally budgeted in 2024, with expectations that city revenues will continue growing in 2025 and 2026. But the city is still facing a projected budget deficit of $245 million next year, in part, as a result of the new labor contract with city employees to increase wages by 9.7% through 2024, and residents are in no mood for new taxes to help close the gap. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s latest survey of Seattle voters revealed that more than three-fourths of voting taxpayers do not want taxes raised in order to address the deficit. The survey was conducted in March when the city's projected budget deficit was $230 million. The chamber’s survey – titled “The Index” – presented two statements to registered voters who participated in the survey. The first statement read “The city should work to offset the deficit by prioritizing government basics, supporting our city’s most vulnerable residents, and reducing non-critical spending before considering tax increases.” The other statement read “The city should maintain the spending levels and programs in place today and raise new taxes to cover this [at the time] estimated $230 million deficit.” The latter statement was only supported by 23% of the 700 completed interviews conducted last month. “80% of voters believe the city of Seattle has enough money to address important priorities, it just needs to spend tax dollars BUDGET Page 3Æ