Housing

Though property owners will pay more, Seattle housing levy among election's winners

SEATTLE — The votes are still being counted, but one of the major winners in Tuesday’s primary was a housing levy in Seattle.

So far, nearly 68 percent of voters have said yes to Proposition 1 -- the $290 million low-income housing measure.

The levy will be funded by Seattle property owners.

Under Proposition 1, owner of a $480,000 home will pay about $120 a year, $60 more than the current levy for low-income housing which expires at the end of the year.

The money raised over the seven-year levy will pay to build, renovate or preserve around 2,150 units of low-income housing in the city.

More specifically, the housing levy helps families at risk of eviction because of illness or loss of work. Low-income, first-time home buyers can also get down payment assistance loans through the levy.

To qualify, people have to be making 60 percent or less than the median income in the area. Currently, that's less than $38,000 a year for one person and less than $55,000 for a family of four.

There wasn't any organized campaign against Proposition 1, although some were critical of adding more taxes to their family budget.

Backers of the measure said Proposition 1 was especially critical this time around, because federal funding for low-income housing has declined 30 percent since 2010.

Mail-in ballots are still being counted, but with 68 percent approval, the housing levy is pretty safe.