Seattle Council Adds Transit Tax to November Ballot

The proposed measure aims to double the city's transit sales tax rate to fund Metro operations and expansion projects.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in City Hall

Isometric editorial illustration of a modern bus at a transit stop, representing urban public transportation funding and infrastructure. — The Seattle City Council unanimously approved placing a transit sales tax measure on the November 3 ballot to fund Metro operations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your community increase sales taxes to fund public transit despite lower ridership and fare evasion?

The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved placing Proposition 1 on the November 3 ballot, which would increase the city's transit sales tax to 0.3 percent for the next decade. If passed, the measure is estimated to generate $138 million annually to support Metro transit services and Sound Transit 3 projects.

Why it matters

The proposal addresses significant operational hurdles for King County Metro, which has struggled with a rise in operating costs and high operator vacancy rates. The funding is intended to bolster service levels and support infrastructure projects as the current tax structure reaches its expiration date in 2027.

Proposition 1 would increase the transit sales tax to 0.3 percent, adding $1.50 to every $1,000 in taxable purchases. This follows data showing bus operating costs per passenger rose to $10.26 in 2024, compared to $5.63 in 2019.

The players

Seattle City Council

This local governing body is responsible for legislating city policies, including the approval of ballot measures for public vote.

King County Metro

This is the primary public transit agency that provides bus and transit services to the Seattle metropolitan area.

Shawn Yim

He was a Metro bus operator whose death following a stabbing near the University of Washington highlighted safety concerns for transit staff.

The details

The measure seeks to replace the existing 0.15 percent transit tax before it expires on March 31, 2027. Officials aim to use the revenue to address staffing challenges, including 119 reported bus operator vacancies, and to support the city's broader transit connectivity goals.

Annual bus ridership was 121.41 million in 2019.
A Metro driver was fatally stabbed in December 2024.
County officials briefed the council on ridership and staffing in October 2025.
Voters will decide on the Proposition 1 tax increase on November 3, 2026.
The city's current transit sales tax expires on March 31, 2027.

Political Context

The ballot measure serves as a funding mechanism to support Sound Transit 3 projects in the city. It extends the local funding commitment required to realize the regional Sound Transit 3 infrastructure goals.

If the measure is approved by voters, residents will see an increase in the sales tax rate for taxable purchases starting in 2027. This tax adjustment is designed to sustain transit services that have seen fluctuating ridership and rising costs in recent years.

The takeaway

Voters will decide this November whether to approve a tax hike to stabilize transit funding in the face of rising operating expenses and staffing shortages. The outcome will determine the financial trajectory for Seattle bus services through the next decade.