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.
Seattle and King County, WA Cost Estimation Model In July 2021, Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) and King County’s Best Starts for Kids jointly commissioned a report to understand the true cost of child care in Seattle and King County, building on the statewide cost estimation model developed for Washington by Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies (P5FS). DEEL and Best Starts for Kids adapted Washington’s model inputs to reflect local labor markets and cost of living by using current salary data from a local child care provider survey, and by applying MIT’s Living Wage Calculator data specific to King County and Seattle. The report affirmed prior findings that the cost of care is higher in Seattle and King County than in any other area of the state. The resulting cost estimation model allows Seattle and King County to estimate costs under local conditions and to use those estimates to guide local subsidy policy and investment decisions. learn more: seattle and king county cost estimation model Sources:Workman, S., & Capito, J. (2023). Understanding the true cost of child care in the City of Seattle and King County. Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies.	Cost Estimation and Subsidy Rates Cost Estimation Model	2021		State General Funds	Leaders in Seattle and King County, WA commissioned a report to understand the true cost of child care in Seattle and King County, building on the statewide cost estimation model	In July 2021, Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) and King County’s Best Starts for Kids jointly commissioned a report to understand the true cost of child care in Seattle and King County, building on the statewide cost estimation model developed for Washington by Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies (P5FS). DEEL and Best Starts for Kids adapted Washington’s model inputs to reflect local labor markets and cost of living by using current salary data from a local child care provider survey, and by applying MIT’s Living Wage Calculator data specific to King County and Seattle. The report affirmed prior findings that the cost of care is higher in Seattle and King County than in any other area of the state. The resulting cost estimation model allows Seattle and King County to estimate costs under local conditions and to use those estimates to guide local subsidy policy and investment decisions. learn more: seattle and king county cost estimation model Sources:Workman, S., & Capito, J. (2023). Understanding the true cost of child care in the City of Seattle and King County. Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies.