On June 25, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Committee voted to endorse King County Proposition 1, renewing the King County Parks Levy, in the Aug. 5 primary election.

The King County Parks Levy expires at the end of 2025 and currently funds operations and maintenance of King County’s parks and trails. The renewed levy would cost King County property owners 23.29 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value, or an estimated $16.38 per month ($2.50 more per month than the current levy, $196.56 per year) for the owner of a King County home of current median property value.

If approved by voters, the levy would collect a total of $1.45 billion over six years. The levy funding will account for approximately 80% of the King County Parks Department’s budget and is distributed across the following areas:

  1. Clean, Safe & Open (Operations and Maintenance) – 34%
  2. Increase Access – 47%
    1. This includes funding for pools, ballfields, regional institutions like the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Waterfront Park, Memorial Stadium, Pacific Science Center, King County Aquatic Center, and pass through funding to cities and towns
    2. Also supports active recreation repairs and renovation as well as new park development and improvements
  3. Grow & Connect – 19% (Improve and expand regional trails and support climate resilience, conservation & stewardship)
  4. Other costs – 1%

The county parks levy was first passed in 2003 and has been renewed by voters each time in the two decades since, including in 2007, 2013, and 2019.

The current levy, expiring this year, was projected to generate an estimated $810 million over the six years that it was in effect to support countywide investments in parks, trails, recreation, and open space protection.

The executive’s proposed renewal  was transmitted to the county council for deliberation in February. An amendment to the proposal included several councilmembers’ priorities and shrank the proposed package from $1.5 billion to $1.45 billion. The proposal also was reviewed and approved the Regional Policy Committee, which includes representatives from the King County Council, Seattle City Council, and Sound Cities Association.

Some key changes to the package included:

  • Slight funding reductions for regional institutions including the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, and Waterfront Park
  • New investment in the Pacific Science Center
  • Changes to grant funding model for pass through to parks and cities based on requests from the Sound Cities Association

The Parks levy as amended, along with other councilmembers’ amendments, was passed out of the Budget Committee and Regional Policy Committee in April before the county council approved the package for voter consideration on April 15. The final package passed the county council by a 7-2 vote, with Councilmembers Sarah Perry and Reagan Dunn voting no on the proposed tax increase. The funding plan passed 8-1, with Dunn voting no.

The Chamber recommends voting yes on King County Proposition 1, renewing the King County Parks Levy, in the Aug. 5 primary election.

For additional information, email sarahc@seattlechamber.com.