Vote Yes on Seattle Prop 1A to fund Social Housing

Seattle voters will soon receive ballots for the February 11th election. LIHI urges you to vote "Yes" on Seattle Prop 1A. The ballot question is in two parts and will look like this:

Part 1: Should revenue from taxes on payroll expenses be used to fund the development and maintenance of social housing in Seattle?

• ✓ A "Yes" vote supports using such revenue, leading to Question 2.

Part 2: If Question 1 passes, which funding method should be implemented?

• ✓ Proposition 1A: Imposes a 5% tax on annual compensation above $1,000,000 paid to any employee in Seattle.

• Proposition 1B: Allocates $10,000,000 annually for five years from existing payroll expense tax revenues to fund the Social Housing Developer. This takes away $10 million in scarce Jumpstart or payroll tax that nonprofits like LIHI compete for. 

LIHI urges you to vote for Prop 1A over Prop 1B because:

1) Dedicated Funding Source for more affordable housing: Proposition 1A introduces a new 5% payroll tax on annual compensation exceeding $1 million, ensuring a consistent and substantial funding stream for the Seattle Social Housing Developer. It will generate an estimated $50M a year in new housing funds. 

2) Employer Responsibility: The tax under Proposition 1A targets employers compensating employees over $1 million annually, promoting a more equitable distribution of the tax burden. This approach aligns with the principle that those benefiting most from the economy can contribute more to social welfare initiatives.

3) Enhanced Funding Capacity: By implementing a new tax, Proposition 1A is the only option that generates more revenue for housing. This increased funding can accelerate the development of thousands more units of social housing and address housing needs more effectively.

4) Long-Term Commitment: Proposition 1A establishes an ongoing funding mechanism without a predefined end date, providing financial stability for long-term social housing initiatives. 

LIHI, Frank Chopp, Nick Licata, Rebecca Saldana, Robert Cruickshank, Tammy Morales, Akiksha Chatterji, HDC, House Our Neighbors, Real Change, and many others support Prop 1A. 

Vote for Prop 1A!

Cheers, Sharon Lee 

Info on Social Housing

• Click for information on Social Housing

• Meet Seattle Social Housing Developer CEO Roberto Jiménez

• Read the Urbanist support for Social Housing

• Read about an example of a theoretical social housing architectural project designed around a viable, publicly-owned parcel of land in North Seattle