Seattle Tax Vote: Proposed Transit Measure Would Double Rate to 0.3%
Voters face a decision on a $138 million annual funding plan while City Council District 5 candidates contest the final year of a former member's term.
By Thabo Hoffmann ·
Seattle voters will decide this November whether to double the city's transit sales tax from 0.15% to 0.3%. The proposed Proposition 1 aims to raise approximately $138 million annually to fund expanded bus service. This new measure would replace an expiring transit tax that residents approved in 2020.
In the Seattle City Council, the only race on the ballot is for District 5. Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang compete to fill the seat left vacant by Cathy Moore. Moore resigned in 2025 for health and personal reasons. Debora Juarez served as the appointed placeholder until this year's general election.
King County voters also cast ballots for the county assessor. Rob Foxcurran led the August primary with 47% of the vote. Dominique Scarimbolo finished second with 19%. The assessor sets property values to ensure fair tax distribution but does not set tax rates.
Two King County Council seats are in play. Rebecca Saldaña and Toshiko Grace Hasegawa compete for District 2. That seat became vacant when Girmay Zahilay was elected county executive. In District 8, incumbent Teresa Mosqueda faces first-time candidate Nick Duda. The district covers areas from central Seattle southwest to Vashon Island.
Four of the nine King County Council districts have terms expiring this year. However, only the District 2 and District 8 races are contested.
