Faculty Advisor
Kessel, Alisa
Area of Study
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Publication Date
Summer 2019
Abstract
While rapid growth and development brings great opportunity to Tacoma, it also brings great challenges. Among these challenges is housing affordability. In response to this challenge, Tacoma developed an Affordable Housing Action Strategy that was released in September 2018. One recommendation from the strategy was an affordable housing property-tax levy. Tacoma had attempted a local housing levy in 2001 and 2005 but failed in both cases. Despite these failed attempts, communities throughout Washington, including Seattle, Bellingham, and Vancouver succeed in passing a housing levy. This research investigates these three successful campaigns throughout the state in order to uncover what made them successful as well as an investigation into Jefferson County's failed attempt. The findings suggest that successful campaigns have a history of success, recognized need, good timing, a strong campaign team, practical messaging, adequate campaign resources, a strong coalition, and weak or nonexistent organized opposition.
Award
Summer research
Recommended Citation
Barcus, Anna, "Washington’s Affordable Housing Property-Tax Levies: Lessons from the Campaigns" (2019). Summer Research. 337.
https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/summer_research/337
Rights
Publisher
University of Puget Sound