Proposition 1 would largely fund the campaigns of Seattle City Council candidates with property taxes. If candidates raised 600 private contributions of at least $10, they’d receive a $6 match in taxpayer funds for every $1 raised in small contributions, up to a maximum of $210,000. If approved by voters, the program would collect $2 million from taxpayers next year.
Proponents say the cost of council campaigns keeps good candidates from running. They say taxpayer funding would decrease the influence of private contributors in City Hall, while also increasing the diversity of candidates.
Opponents say Prop. 1 is misguided, and that taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to finance candidates they don’t like. They point to research that shows public-financing has not made election races more competitive in jurisdictions that have adopted it.
