House Democrats begin push to repeal Washington's cap on property tax hikes [View all]

Democratic state lawmakers are aiming to erase a voter-approved limit on annual property tax hikes as a way to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for public schools and local governments.

The state House Finance Committee held a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 1334 which would repeal a 1% cap on annual growth for property tax collections and give the state and local governments the ability to levy hikes up to 3%.

This could drive $818 million into state coffers for education and close to $1 billion for cities and counties over the next four fiscal years, according to a fiscal analysis.

“When it comes to the basic services that our constituents need in order to do anything, all of these duties have literally been kneecapped by a 1% cap on revenue growth. What else is capped at 1%? Nothing,” Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/02/11/house-democrats-begin-push-to-repeal-washingtons-cap-on-property-tax-hikes/