gay-marriage.jpg
Starting Jan. 1, gay and lesbian city employees who get married will receive a monthly allowance of $90, or approximately $1,080 over a 12-month period. The money will help cover healthcare expenses for their spouse. (AP Photo)

City of Seattle to give monthly 'allowance' to gay employees who wed

BY Brandi Kruse  on December 4, 2012 @ 9:48 am (Updated: 1:14 pm - 12/4/12 )

On Wednesday, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and members of the city council will announce a new benefit for gay and lesbian city employees who get married under the state's marriage equality law, according to multiple sources who work for the city.

The benefit to gay couples will cost taxpayers an estimated $162,000 a year. Sources say the expense has been worked into the city's 2013-2014 budget.

Starting Jan. 1, gay and lesbian city employees who get married will receive a monthly allowance of $90, or approximately $1,080 over a 12-month period. The money will help cover healthcare expenses for their spouse.

While the city already offers health coverage to employees in same-sex unions, the stipend is designed to offset federal taxes that those couples must pay due to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Opposite-sex couples are not subject to federal income and payroll taxes on the value of their health coverage.

The coverage for same-sex couples is taxed at an average rate of 15 percent.

"The city wants to mitigate at least part of that by providing employees in same-sex marriages an allowance to help offset some of the extra taxes they pay the federal government," one source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the changes, told KIRO Radio.

During an unrelated press conference Tuesday, Mayor McGinn was asked about the benefit and whether the city would be criticized for giving same-sex couples "special treatment."

"Of course, of course I would be criticized," he said. "But at the same time, if the federal government has an unjust law I don't think it is fair to punish our workers who are following all the rules."

Currently, there are 150 city employees who have a same-sex spouse enrolled in a city-provided health plan. However, the stipend would only be given to those who marry once Washington's marriage equality bill takes effect.

According to the source, the specific numbers are preliminary and could change before the end of the year.

The source said figuring out how to implement the allowance was "incredibly complicated" and an "Interdepartmental Workgroup" continues to sort out details.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
More Local News
Top Stories

  • Miracle
    Seattle native is only person ever cured of HIV and returns home to boost the cure

  • Back In Business
    A temporary bridge span across the Skagit River is set to open Wednesday

  • High Altitude Upgrade
    The state's highest outhouse atop Mount Rainier is getting a badly needed upgrade
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (105)


  • Add A Comment

  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    QUOTE: I would ask you this: who do you think taught us this level of hatred? Oh, that's right, white Republican Christians
    December 4, 2012 4:00 pm
    Yes...we all know; you and all gays are "victims". We've heard it all before. Same card; different class of "victims". If we have so much inflence on you all, we are really, really strong & inflential and you are really, really weak-minded and maleable.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    So gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood...
    December 4, 2012 4:01 pm
    has publicly used the term "a-hole" at least twice today to describe persons who do not agree with his/her/it's views. Very inclusive. Very progressive. Very ignorant...very liberal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Aw come on. I probably shouldn't have used those words.
    December 4, 2012 5:25 pm
    Mea culpa okay mofo?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Hate.
    December 4, 2012 4:51 pm
    This thrown around term that needs to be examined. Describing a differing view than what you hold as "hate" is an attempt to insulate yourself. You become the victim. This is similar to what those practitioners of radical Islam subscribe to. It doesn't matter what you have to do to defend your position because you are constantly "threatened" by those who don't believe as you do. I believe that Muslims don't get to go to Heaven. I don't need to slaughter them to prove my point. Their souls will be dealt with by God as will all of ours. Why bother with violence in this world? The Left and especially the pro-homosexual movement is very much involved with demonizing those who disagree with them. We are filled with hate, we are homophobes, etc, etc. No, we disagree with you. Except for that small minority of pinheads who protest military funerals, people who support marriage as it should be are civil and decent in their disagreements. No profanity, no attacks, no attempting to belittle your opponent. The Left has no problem attacking with a sharp tongue.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    I have a confession to make.
    December 4, 2012 5:27 pm
    I use profanity...come on. I've been called way worst things than a hole and I don't get butt hurt about it. I didn't you all were such sensitive fellas. I shall try to refrain in the future...okay loveys?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    gmcfh.....I didn't you all either.
    December 4, 2012 5:52 pm
    Not all holes are bad. Nothing wrong with donut holes. Although, l think it's a Hostess product, and I know how you feel about Hostess.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    LOL. Holes come in all shapes and sizes.
    December 4, 2012 6:50 pm
    Like you said, some holes are right down tasty, others are black and vast and seem scary at first but are really no threat.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    I use it as well.
    December 4, 2012 5:36 pm
    Especially in traffic. Just not in written form. We all are jerks from time to time. All of us. It doesn't make it right and we all need to work on our manners. No need to make our positions weaker by being small people.(and please don't go on a rant about midgets or something).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • astromart wrote...
    in your picture on the front page
    December 4, 2012 6:09 pm
    The woman on the right has a LOT more money than the "larger" woman on the left. Guess gays aren't that much different after all when it comes to sex.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jn4 wrote...
    what is wrong with this picture
    December 4, 2012 7:23 pm
    Tax people for this??
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    These people already get an "allowance".
    December 5, 2012 9:00 am
    It's called a salary. Just like the rest of get when we work!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    If we are as full of hate as you seem to think we are, I would ask you this: who do you think taught us this level of hatred?
    December 5, 2012 9:12 am
    Your Dear Leader and your beloved regime has taught you to hate. Not I or any other American and/or Christian.

    You and the rest of you Parrots may blame Christians all you want. But it changes nothing. People like you will always hope for bad and terrible things to happen to all of us who disagree with your indoctrinated way of life. A way of life taught to you by the words of your Dear Leader Obama.

    You really did make me laugh at you most pathetic attempts at trying to blame me and all other Americans who do not bow down to your Deity, your Dear Leader. You are like your Dear Leader. NO COMPROMISE! No willingness to work with others. It's all we give and you people take. This is your regime, your future that you mindless Left wing Parrots voted for. And you will have to live under it for 4 more years starting in January.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }