CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION regarding Initiative 137 concerning a payroll expense tax to fund the Social Housing Developer; authorizing the City Clerk and the Executive Director of the Ethics and Elections Commission to take those actions necessary to enable the proposed Initiative Measure to appear on the November 5, 2024, ballot and the local voters’ pamphlet; requesting the King County Elections Director to place the proposed Initiative Measure on the November 5, 2024, ballot; and providing for the publication of such proposed Initiative Measure.
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WHEREAS, proponents submitted to the City Clerk a ballot measure petition concerning a payroll expense tax to fund the Social Housing Developer (which the City Clerk designated as Seattle Initiative No. 137 in Clerk File 322950); and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk forwarded the petition to the Director of King County Elections for certification of whether the petition bears a sufficient number of valid signatures to
qualify for introduction to the City Council as provided in Seattle City Charter Article IV, Section 1; and
WHEREAS, the Director of King County Elections has certified that the Initiative No. 137 petition bears sufficient valid signatures to qualify for introduction to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, Seattle City Charter Article IV, Section 1 provides that, if the City Council does not enact an initiative bill or measure bearing a sufficient number of signatures, it shall be the duty of the City Council to submit the initiative measure to the voters of the City for their ratification or rejection; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:
Section 1. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to take those actions necessary to place City of Seattle Initiative No. 137 in Clerk File 322950, a copy of which is attached to this resolution as Attachment A, on the November 5, 2024, ballot, including but not limited to publishing the proposed Initiative Measure as provided by the City Charter.
Section 2. The Executive Director of the Ethics and Elections Commission is authorized and requested to take those actions necessary to place information regarding City of Seattle Initiative Measure 137 in the November 5, 2024, voters’ pamphlet.
Section 3. The Director of Elections of King County, Washington, as ex officio supervisor of elections, is requested to call for a special election and place City of Seattle Initiative Measure 137 on the November 5, 2024, ballot, with the following ballot title approved by the Seattle City Attorney:
City of Seattle Initiative Measure 137 concerns a payroll expense tax to fund the Social Housing Developer.
This measure would impose a tax on payroll expenses for employers doing business in Seattle. The tax rate would be 5% on annual compensation above $1,000,000 paid in Seattle to any employee. Proceeds would support the Social Housing Developer, a public development authority created to develop, own, and maintain social housing in Seattle. The tax imposed would be in addition to the City’s payroll expense tax levied under Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 5.38.
Should this measure be approved?
Yes ____
No____
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2024, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment A - City of Seattle Initiative Measure No. 137 (from Clerk File 322950)