Here is what gets me.
They are levying this tax to set up programs to help homeless.
My question is, what about all of the tax revenue Seattle currently collects from existing taxes? Why can’t they budget for homeless programs within their existing budget?
And I wonder if this special dedicated tax for homeless, will stay that way, or will this new additional tax revenue be diverted elsewhere. Will this money be “borrowed” by other government agencies to balance their budgets, pay pension benefits, pay legal settlements, or other things which come up?
I really question if this dedicated tax is going to always be spent only on homeless programs. And I question if the tax will be repealed, when they have determined, at some future date, that the homeless problem is under control.
Next step:
A soda tax like NY city!