Seattle City Council Briefing: Affordability and Tax Presentation – June 1, 2026

The Seattle City Council held a briefing on June 1, 2026, starting at 2:02 PM in the Council Chamber, presided over by Council President Hollingsworth. The meeting included approval of minutes, two proclamations, a major presentation on affordability in Seattle, and previews of upcoming council and committee actions. Councilmembers engaged in extensive discussion on tax burdens, income distribution, and the need to balance resident, business, and government affordability. The meeting adjourned at 3:38 PM.

Consent Calendar

• The Council Briefing minutes from May 18, 2026, were approved unanimously without objection.

Proclamations

• Gun Violence Awareness Month (June 2026): Councilmember Rivera led the proclamation, recognizing June 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Month, to be signed by Mayor Katie Wilson. All nine councilmembers affixed their signatures.
• Amar Murphy Payne Day (June 6): Council President Hollingsworth presented a proclamation honoring Amar Murphy Payne, a Garfield High School student killed by gun violence two years prior. The proclamation declares June 6 as Amar Murphy Payne Day. All nine councilmembers signed, with a celebration scheduled for the next day at City Hall.

Presentation on Affordability in Seattle

• Council Central Staff members Calvin Chow and Tom Mikesell delivered a presentation on affordability, focusing on property and sales taxes. Key data included: inflation at 4.9% (Seattle area, April 2026 year-over-year), 30% of Seattle households earn over $200,000 annually, the median home property tax bill is $8,254 (city share $2,871), and average rental property tax is $3,121 (city share ~$1,000). Sales tax is regressive: households below $33,500 pay 4.5% of income in sales tax vs. less than 0.5% for those above $878,000. Relief programs exist for property taxes (senior/disabled exemptions, deferrals) and sales tax excludes rent, food, and utilities.
• Councilmember Strauss linked high inflation to the city’s revenue cap (1% property tax increase plus new construction), noting this erodes purchasing power. He emphasized that area median income (AMI) eligibility for programs often does not reflect Seattle’s high cost of living and highlighted work with the Council President to expand the utility discount program to more residents.
• Councilmember Foster argued that AMI is not a measure of affordability and lifted the University of Washington’s Self-Sufficiency Standard as a better tool. She questioned the state’s “poor and infirm” language that constrains city subsidies and called for analyzing tax impacts on lower-assessed-value homes and lower-income households.
• Councilmember Kettle framed affordability in three buckets: residents, businesses, and city government. He cited examples of businesses leaving Seattle (e.g., saving $26,000 by moving to Bellevue) and a $15 billion decline in downtown commercial property values, which pressure city budgets. He urged looking at spending alongside revenue.
• Councilmember Lynn noted Seattle’s skewed income distribution and called for revenue-neutral progressive tax shifts to correct the regressive tax code. She highlighted that low-income senior renters lack property tax relief available to homeowners and asked for data comparing Seattle to peer cities.
• Councilmember Warz (Juarez) listed over a dozen city taxes (sweetened beverage, jump start, social housing, B&O, public safety, plus legacy levies like housing, transportation, library, parks, FEP, democracy vouchers). She expressed “tax exhaustion” and called for accountability in how tax revenues are spent, urging audits and transparency. She stressed the importance of a healthy business community and that voters should decide on tax increases.
• Councilmember Rivera echoed Warz, emphasizing the need to examine the full tax landscape (city, county, state) and outcomes of spending. She noted that property taxes impact renters and that low-income families pay sales tax on clothing and other necessities. She called for audits to ensure levies achieve intended results.
• Council President Hollingsworth added that “hidden taxes” arise when services (e.g., clean bike lanes, parks, libraries) are inadequate, costing residents extra money. She noted that voters approve levies without seeing individual cost breakdowns.
• Councilmember Saka previewed the upcoming Seattle Transportation Benefit District renewal proposal (sales tax) and affirmed the compounding impact of multiple taxes on affordability.
• Councilmember Foster highlighted that increasing housing supply through zoning and the comprehensive plan is a key city lever to reduce housing costs.

Preview of Upcoming Council and Committee Actions

• Councilmember Saka announced the first select committee on the Seattle Transportation Benefit District renewal for Thursday, June 4.
• Councilmember Rivera outlined a select committee schedule for the Families, Education, and Pre-K (FEP) levy implementation and evaluation plan: June 10 (mayoral presentation), June 30 (issue identification), July 8 (amendments discussion), July 22 (possible vote in select committee), and July 28 (full council vote). She also announced a gun violence intervention symposium on June 8, led by the National Network for Safe Communities.
• Councilmember Rink reported that the Human Services, Labor, and Economic Development committee would meet on Friday, June 5, to discuss VIA legislation, substance use disorder approaches, and a KCRHA corrective action plan (recently submitted in response to a forensic evaluation). She also thanked Councilmember Warz for work on Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) in Northgate and Lake City Way.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of the May 18, 2026, Council Briefing were unanimously approved.
• Both proclamations (Gun Violence Awareness Month and Amar Murphy Payne Day) were signed by all nine councilmembers.
• The affordability presentation was received; no votes were taken. Discussion will inform future budget, tax, and levy decisions.
• Several upcoming committee meetings and select committees were previewed.
• Meeting adjourned at 3:38 PM.