Rantz: Insatiable King County Democrats introduce another sales tax hike, based on a massive lie

King County Democrats are proposing yet another way to increase the cost of living in the region. County Executive Shannon Braddock hopes to slap a new sales tax on residents to plug a budget hole her own party created, rather than rein in out-of-control spending.

Braddock’s plan imposes a new 0.1% sales tax to “save” King County from deep service cuts. That’s $95 million a year squeezed out of families already buckling under the weight of the region’s sky-high taxes.

Ostensibly, this is to close a $150 million budget gap and “protect” law enforcement jobs. Because apparently, after years of defunding, anti-police rhetoric, and coddling criminals, suddenly the Democrats want to claim they’re champions of public safety? No. As has been the case since February, King County Democrats are lying about the budget.

King County Democrats set the stage for a new tax

The King County budget proposal, introduced in February, announced a staggering $30.2 million in cuts targeting the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).

Under the Democrat-controlled council, and then-Executive Dow Constantine, King County’s spending ballooned nearly 45%, far outpacing population growth and leading to a staggering $150 million budget shortfall for 2026-2027.

“King County’s budget has grown from $9 billion, at the beginning of the 2015/2016 biennium, to $17.5 billion by the end of the 2023/2024 biennium,” King County Council member Reagan Dunn previously explained to “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH. “Calculating for inflation, King County’s budget today represents nearly $13 billion in 2015 dollars—a 44% increase in funding—while its population has increased by just 17.6% during the same period. King County doesn’t have a revenue crisis. It has an efficiency crisis and a priority crisis.”

Rather than acknowledging reckless spending as the culprit, the county blamed the budget crisis on the state’s 1% cap on annual property tax increases—conveniently ignoring that it had no issue funding progressive pet projects.

But Democrats weren’t able to pass a bill allowing a higher property tax levy lid. They did, however, pass House Bill 2015, which authorizes a new local 0.1% sales tax for criminal justice purposes.

Of course, King County will raise sales taxes again

If approved, King County’s sales tax would be among the highest in the state—a state that’s already become unaffordable for working-class families. So, once again, the people least able to afford it are expected to bail out an irresponsible government.

Braddock said, “With approval of this proposal, we can craft a responsible budget that invests in people while preventing deep cuts.” If this is responsible budgeting, what might fiscal malpractice look like?

Council Chair Girmay Zahilay tries to put a sympathetic face on this cash grab, saying, “A sales tax isn’t what I’d choose to fix these issues in an ideal world—it’s a regressive tool. But it’s the only option we have to avoid devastating cuts to our public safety services.”

But it’s not the only option. It’s not even the best option, which would be to stop overspending. What Zahilay is saying is that they intentionally failed to budget responsibly, so now it’s time for you to pay the price.

Gaslighting from Girmay Zahilay

Anti-cop councilmember Girmay Zahilay, who is running for King County Executive, warns that without “urgent action,” police services will be delayed, people in crisis will be left on the streets, and victims will wait longer for justice.

It’s almost as if years of progressive policies that Zahilay supported, reckless spending, and handouts to activist causes have finally caught up with the county’s checkbook. You reap what you sow.

No, the sales tax is not a bargain

Council Budget Chair Rod Dembowski, also tripping over himself to sell this as a bargain, claims, “For the cost of ten cents on a $100 taxable purchase, we can and will keep our sheriff’s office, prosecutor’s office, our courts, victim advocacy services, and prevention and diversion programs adequately resourced.”

Sure, it’s “just ten cents”—until you tally up every “just ten cents” hike King County has championed over the past decade. Then wonder why groceries, gas, and the basics of life cost so much.

Blah blah blah ‘regressive tax’ blah blah blah

Of course, they’re quick to blame the “regressive” tax structure—never mind that Democrats have controlled the legislature, the governor’s mansion, and King County for years. If the tax code is so “regressive,” maybe it’s because they made it that way?

King County Democrats love to posture as the champions of affordability, equity, and social justice. But when the bills come due for their reckless spending, the solution is always the same: grab more of your money. Then they’ll hold a “public safety roundtable” (with all the usual activist groups and bureaucrats) to figure out new ways to tell you how much they care—right before voting for the next tax and undercutting law enforcement, anyway.

King County doesn’t have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. Until voters demand accountability instead of rolling over for the next tax hike, expect this script to repeat itself—again and again. And if you’re okay with the new tax, can you stop complaining about the rising cost of living?

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