Summary

The King County Council’s Committee of the Whole on Tuesday recommended approval of the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA) implementation plan to the full Council.

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The King County Council’s Committee of the Whole on Tuesday recommended approval of the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA) implementation plan to the full Council. 

“I want to thank Dr. Alan Spicciati of the Auburn School District and Dr. Tammy Campbell of the Federal Way School District, as well as Dr. John Mosby of Highline College and Dr. Suzanne Johnson of Green River College for their strong advocacy on behalf of this plan,” said King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “This funding will have a direct impact on their school districts and institutions, and improve access and outcomes across South King County.”

Created in 2015 as part of the State Transportation Revenue Package, PSTAA directs a percentage of sales and use taxes collected from construction projects related to Sound Transit 3 to educational services to improve educational outcomes in early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education. In King County, this will amount to approximately $318 million over a 15-year period.

In 2017 and 2019, the King County Council provided guidance for development and implementation of PSTAA programming in King County. This guidance provided for specific allocations for each funding category as follows:

• 52% for early learning facilities;
• 38% for college, career and technical education;
• 10% for community-based supports for K-12; and
• 7% to administrative costs/evaluation

The implementation plan seeks to improve educational outcomes for students in vulnerable and underserved populations that experience access and opportunity gaps throughout urban and rural King County, resulting in increased kindergarten readiness, and improved high school graduation rates, postsecondary program acceptance rates and degree or certification completion. 

“Over the past several years, my office has worked with community members and leaders in South King County to provide guidance for the PSTAA implementation plan,” von Reichbauer said. “As a result, I am pleased that organizations, including Federal Way Youth Action Team and El Centro de la Raza as well as many others, will be playing an active role in providing community-based support for the youth in our area.”

The full Council is expected to take up the PSTAA Implementation Plan at its next meeting on September 2, 2020.