Levy for veterans, services passing

King County's veterans and human-services levy was winning handily Tuesday night, buoyed by support from politicians and social-service providers.

Proposition 1 increases King County property taxes by 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. A homeowner would pay about $15 annually based on a home valued at $300,000.

Erika Nuerenberg, of the pro-levy campaign, attributed the success to the measure's broad appeal, and the lack of an organized opposition.

"We pulled together all of the folks that had concerns and made it something that everyone could feel good about. So our biggest victory was that we didn't have opposition."

The levy would raise $13.3 million a year for six years, and passes with a simple majority.

Since 1888, when Civil War veterans flooded into the state, the Legislature has made sure each county has services for former soldiers, paid for with property taxes.

Currently, King County's Veteran's Program is funded by a property tax of less than 1 cent per $1,000 of assessed value. Its operating budget is $2.1 million.

The levy on Tuesday's ballot was conceived to benefit veterans only. But opposition from human-service groups and some King County Council members forced a compromise that would split Prop. 1 revenues equally among veterans, seniors, the disabled and victims of domestic violence.

Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com