Tech 4 Housing volunteers were out in support of ballot Initiative 137 this weekend (Image: @tech4housing)

The Prop 1 transportation levy had strong support across the city (Image: wacommunityalliance.github.io)

With more than 66% of Seattle voters approving the city’s $1.55 billion transportation levy earlier this month, attention is now turning to the next big financial decision set for the ballot this winter

Volunteers from Tech 4 Housing were at the Capitol Hill Farmers Market this weekend raising support for funding social housing.

Advocates won’t have to pitch more property taxes for this one. The Let’s Build Social Housing ballot Initiative 137 would add a 5% tax on companies for every dollar over a million paid to a Seattle employee in annual compensation including salary, stock, and bonuses. It will appear on the ballot in a special election in February.

A Seattle City Council-backed alternative initiative will also be presented to voters. That proposal would not create a new tax, instead amending the existing JumpStart payroll tax to provide $10 million annually to the Seattle Social Housing Developer in funding administered by the Seattle Office of Housing for five years with an option for extending the program.

Under state law, voters will be presented with a two-part decision. “Should either of these measures be enacted into law?” will be the first question. Then voters must select which of the two options they prefer.

As for the transportation levy, Seattle voters easily backed its focus on spending on streets, transit, sidewalk, and bike lanes for the next eight years with only the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods voting against the proposition.