Today, the Council approved by an 8-0 vote a resolution introduced by Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) to dedicate up to 25% of any proposed sales tax increase to a progressive public safety initiative that would invest in critical addiction treatment services.

The goal of the initiative is to fill treatment gaps in existing services to support Seattle’s public safety progress, and to provide a comprehensive range of recovery-based services to people struggling with substance use disorder.

“I’m fighting to put treatment at the center of the city’s agenda because addiction is a root cause of our public safety and chronic homelessness challenges,” said Council President Nelson. “Investing in recovery-based services and housing is a fiscally responsible use of this new revenue, and it’s also morally the right thing to do.”

If implemented, the public safety sales tax increase would generate close to $40 million a year and Council President Nelson’s initiative would dedicate up to $10 million of that revenue to support a variety of critical initiatives including:

• Expanding access to on-demand residential and intensive outpatient substance use disorder treatment and maintaining the funding model of the existing pilot project. 
• Enhancing access to recovery housing and recovery-based services within existing low-barrier permanent supportive housing. 
• Innovative approaches to addressing stimulant use disorder and expanding the provision of long-lasting buprenorphine injections, a clinically proven approach to managing opioid dependence. 
• Stabilizing diversion services such as Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) long-term case management and capacity for low-barrier shelter, case management, aftercare, and legal coordination for people living unsheltered with severe substance use disorder, such as CoLEAD. 
• Funding capital investments to support the facilities where treatment services are provided, including physical improvements to existing clinics.   
• Coordination with King County to increase the number of Designated Crisis Responders (DCRs) operating within Seattle to facilitate referrals to Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization (SWMS) facilities, such as the one operated by Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care.  

Background  

The 2025 State Legislature authorized local jurisdictions to increase the local sales and use tax by one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for public safety programs with the passage of House Bill 2015, sponsored by Rep. Debra Entenman (D-Kent/Auburn) and advanced by the Washington State Legislative Black Caucus (WSLBC). In 2024 alone, 568 overdose deaths occurred in the city. At the same time, rising service costs and declining federal support due to the Trump Administration are putting core programs at risk. 

What’s next  

While no specific proposal to raise the sales tax has been introduced by the Mayor’s Office, one is anticipated in the near future.

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