In a letter addressed to Council Member Bob Kettle, 19 Seattle-based housing and service providers, labor groups, and community advocates, including the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, implore Seattle City Council to honor the commitments of the Jumpstart Payroll Expense Tax (JS/PET) and limit the transfer of any funds from the tax to the 2025-2026 biennium budget.
“We risk JS/PET becoming an excuse to ignore the general fund shortfall and a slush fund for the pet projects of whoever happens to be in office,” the letter states.
Instead of diverting funds from the JS/PET to cover the city’s budget shortfall indefinitely, advocates represented in this letter argue funds earned from this tax should be maintained for their original purpose: affordable housing, the Green New Deal, and equitable development.
“Seattle residents deserve to see real progress on the housing and homelessness crises, displacement, and the climate crisis,” the letter states.
In addition to preserving JS/PET for its intended destiny, the letter urges City Council to consider adding progressive revenue streams to the city’s cash flow as a better means for addressing the budget shortfall.
“Seattle needs and deserves new progressive revenue to help meet our city’s commitments as soon as possible,” states the letter.
The letter is signed by the following organizations: 350 Seattle, Be:Seattle, Economic Opportunity Institute, House Our Neighbors, Housing Development Consortium, Lake City Taskforce on Homelessness, Low Income Housing Institute, Multicultural Community Coalition, Peoples Economy Lab, People Power WA, Puget Sound Sage, Queer Power Alliance, Real Change, Seattle Human Services Coalition, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, Seattle Solidarity Budget, Transit Riders Union, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and YouthCare.
In addition to their letter, these organizations are working to convene supporters of their ask for public comment on November 12 for the final public hearing regarding the city’s current budget cycle. Let them know you can give public comment using this form.