King County, WA

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Strategy Name	Strategy Type(s)	Year	Funding Amount	Funding Source	Features at a Glance
Best Starts for Kids In November 2015, voters in King County approved a property tax to create a dedicated source of funding, Best Starts for Kids, for early childhood initiatives in the county. The six-year levy was initially set at a rate of $0.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which raised about $65 million per year at a cost to the average King County homeowner of about $56 per year. Championed by King County Executive Dow Constantine, the levy generated $400 million over six years. The Best Starts levy was renewed and expanded by King County voters in August 2021, investing over $800 million in funding for six more years, through 2027. The ballot measure passed with nearly 63% of voter support and authorized an increase in property tax of $0.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Best Starts for Kids funds services that target the prenatal period through adulthood. In 2023, the fund allocated $45,855,095 toward its early childhood initiatives, partnering with over 500 community-based organizations that target workforce development and educator retention, capital improvement projects for child care facilities, home visiting services, infant and early childhood mental health consultations, and parenting support, among other priorities. Best Starts also allocated an estimated $199,341,000 between 2022 and 2027 for the Child Care Subsidy Program and Child Care Worker Wage Boost Program. learn more: best starts for kids Sources: King County. (n.d.). About Best Starts for Kids. King County. (n.d.). Best Starts for Kids Levy Proposal. Harris, R. (2024, February 13). Investing Early in Child Well-Being Gives King County Kids the “Best Start”. Children's Funding Project. King County. (n.d.). August 3, 2021 Primary and Special Election. King County. (2024, July 15). 2023 Best Starts for Kids Annual Report.	Dedicated Funding Streams & Financing Taxes Property Tax	2015	$800 million in funding over six years, through 2027	County Dedicated Funding Stream	Property tax revenue created a dedicated source of funding, Best Starts for Kids, for early childhood initiatives in the county	In November 2015, voters in King County approved a property tax to create a dedicated source of funding, Best Starts for Kids, for early childhood initiatives in the county. The six-year levy was initially set at a rate of $0.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which raised about $65 million per year at a cost to the average King County homeowner of about $56 per year. Championed by King County Executive Dow Constantine, the levy generated $400 million over six years. The Best Starts levy was renewed and expanded by King County voters in August 2021, investing over $800 million in funding for six more years, through 2027. The ballot measure passed with nearly 63% of voter support and authorized an increase in property tax of $0.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Best Starts for Kids funds services that target the prenatal period through adulthood. In 2023, the fund allocated $45,855,095 toward its early childhood initiatives, partnering with over 500 community-based organizations that target workforce development and educator retention, capital improvement projects for child care facilities, home visiting services, infant and early childhood mental health consultations, and parenting support, among other priorities. Best Starts also allocated an estimated $199,341,000 between 2022 and 2027 for the Child Care Subsidy Program and Child Care Worker Wage Boost Program. learn more: best starts for kids Sources: King County. (n.d.). About Best Starts for Kids. King County. (n.d.). Best Starts for Kids Levy Proposal. Harris, R. (2024, February 13). Investing Early in Child Well-Being Gives King County Kids the “Best Start”. Children's Funding Project. King County. (n.d.). August 3, 2021 Primary and Special Election. King County. (2024, July 15). 2023 Best Starts for Kids Annual Report.