Seattle
Property Tax Referendum
In November of 2014, Seattle voters approved a referendum to increase property taxes to allow for 11 cents per $1,000 in assessed value to fund the operation of the Seattle Preschool Program. The increase is estimated to provide about $14.5 million per year for four years for a total of $58.2 million. In practice, homeowners with a home worth $400,000 pay an additional $43 per year.
In June 2025, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to send the $1.3 billion Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy renewal to voters on the November ballot. Proposition 1 was approved by 80% of voters.
number of classrooms during 2015-2016 launch year
number of classrooms during 2025-2026 school year
number of seats during 2015-2016 launch year
number of seats during 2-25-2026 school year
Challenges
Failed Attempt in 2003
Seattle tried a similar initiative financed by a 10 cent tax on espresso drinks (dubbed the “latte tax”). The lesson learned from the 2003 effort was to use a broad-based levy, not a levy that was product specific.
Complicated Proposition
Seattle faced two propositions related to creating a preschool initiative. Each side waged a campaign. Proposition 1B contained an o set to pay for the initiative; Proposition 1A did not.
Ongoing Challenge
The City Council Ordinance called for a mixed delivery model. Initial implementation appears primarily school-based. Even after approval, it is important to continue to engage in implementation efforts to ensure that the initiative is implemented in alignment with the Ordinance.
Getting to Action
The initiative was spearheaded by the Children’s Alliance and their coalition, the Early Learning Action Alliance, Fight Crime Invest in Kids, the University of Washington and Seattle business leaders. The key was obtaining support (and leadership) from the Mayor. City Council support spurred the preparation needed to inform a pathway to approve a citywide preschool program (i.e., a gap analysis, polling action plan).
| Sept 2013 | Seattle City Council adopted Resolution 31478 supporting a voluntary preschool program. The resolution called for a gap analysis and an action plan. |
| Feb 2014 | The Gap Analysis Report was presented to the City Council. |
| May 2014 | Seattle Mayor Ed Murray proposed an Action Plan (a program proposal combined with a financing mechanism). |
| June 2014 | The Seattle City Council approved the Mayor’s plan (Ordinance 124509), which included a special election on November 4, 2014, a proposition to li the limit on regular property taxes and authorized a four-year pilot program. |
| Nov 2014 | Proposition 1B won approval with 67 percent of the vote, authorizing the preschool pilot serving 2,000 children in 100 classrooms by 2018 and the 11 cent property tax increase to fund the program. |
| June 2025 | Seattle City Council voted unanimously to send the $1.3 billion Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy renewal to voters on the November ballot. |
| November 2025 | Proposition 1 approved by 80% of voters. |
Results
Seattle funds a voluntary full-day preschool program for three- and four-year-olds that began in September of 2015. Tuition is free for families earning less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, with a sliding fee scale for families earning more than 300 percent of the poverty level. Teachers receive on-site curriculum support and on-site training based on need, including best practices in inclusion, bilingual education, cultural competence and classroom management. The program iwas was originally authorized for four years and was expected to serve 2,000 children. In reality, it served just over 3,000 children.
Of the $1.3 billion in the levy voted on in 2025, approximately half will go to early learning. Through this, affordable childcare slots will more than double, going from 600-1400. 600 more slots will also be added to the nationally recognized Seattle Preschool Program. (Additional funds will go to fund physical and mental healthcare for K-12 students, universal access to free two-year college, and more paths to trades.)
In January of 2026, The Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) earned its fourth consecutive national Gold Medal for high-quality, accessible preschool programming, continuing Seattle’s leadership in early learning excellence. This marked the eighth year SPP has received national recognition. The award was presented by CityHealth and the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University for Seattle’s publicly funded preschool system, which includes SPP, and the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program.
Tuition is free for families earning less than 300% of the federal poverty level.
Keys to Success
Mayor and City Council championed the initiative
Initiative was time-limited (not in perpetuity)—a four year pilot program
The measure was paid for and the revenue source was broad-based (all property tax owners)
A first step was passing a resolution to gauge support by elected officials
The resolution called for material to help make the case moving forward (i.e. gap analysis)
Polling showed high support
A broad-based advocacy effort/coalition assisted in waging a campaign in support of the Proposition
Sufficient fundraising was in place to launch an issue-based campaign
Photo By Kyle Stokes / KPLU
