King County’s 0.01% sales tax for youth homelessness programs has drawn a disputed “blank check” label. The tax is projected to bring in about $10 million a year for three years, or about $4 a year in sales tax.
Columnist Danny Westneat argued that the county should establish a spending plan, goals and oversight before collecting the money. He pointed to alleged improper payments and possible fraud in Best Starts for Kids as reasons to scrutinize county human services spending.
Westneat also claimed that operating costs had risen at Health Through Housing and questioned whether it would meet its goals. That separate program provides permanent supportive housing in existing buildings. The available account does not establish what spending or oversight provisions apply to the youth homelessness tax.
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