Seattle council backs preemptive sales tax slice for addiction treatment programs

(The Center Square) – The Seattle City Council unanimously approved legislation on Tuesday that aims to dedicate a portion – up to 25% – of a future sales tax increase to addiction treatment services.

According a news release, the public safety sales tax increase, if implemented, would generate close to $40 million a year and Council President Nelson’s initiative would dedicate up to $10 million of that revenue to support a variety of critical initiatives

House Bill 2015 authorizes most local jurisdictions to implement a 0.1% – or 10 cents per $100 spent – sales and use tax. However generated revenue has to go toward public safety programs.

Currently, no specific proposal to raise Seattle’s sales tax has been introduced by Mayor Bruce Harrell. However, Nelson said one is anticipated in the near future.

Prior to the resolution’s approval on Tuesday, Nelson acknowledged that a future sales tax is regressive, but emphasized that the resolution means a portion of revenue would go to public safety efforts and makes neighborhoods safer.

Programs that could see boosted funding from the dedicated revenue include on-demand residential and outpatient care, recovery housing, and diversion services like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion arrest diversion program.

Nelson said in the news release that she is “fighting to put treatment at the center of the city’s agenda because addiction is a root cause of our public safety and chronic homelessness challenges.” This comes less than a week after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that redirects federal funding to substance abuse treatment, enforcing bans on open drug use and camping on public property, and prohibiting funding for drug injection sites.

“We basically just watch [unhoused people] deteriorate on our streets while our neighborhoods become less safe,” Nelson said.

Out of 1,044 overdose deaths in King County in 2024, 568 occurred in Seattle. Nelson notes that at the same time, service costs are rising and funding from President Donald Trump’s administration is at risk due to the city not complying with federal immigration enforcement.

Earlier this month, the King County Council voted 8-1 to approve a new sales tax that broadly goes toward public safety programs without a defined spending plan.