The King County Council approved a new levy this week that would include nearly $800 million in projected funding to increase King County access to science, heritage, and the arts over the next seven years.
What’s being called the Doors Open levy is dedicated to supporting equitable access and programming in public schools, and is expected to drive tourism and revenue as well as reinforce the workforce pipeline to the arts and culture sector through a sales tax increase of 0.1%, a release said.
Currently, the arts and culture sector encompasses 10.8% of Washington’s gross domestic product.
“I’m absolutely elated with the passage of the Doors Open program that has been years in the making, beginning during my time in the state Senate, and now with final action taken by our King County Council,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, the measure’s prime sponsor, in the release. “The council’s overwhelming support speaks to the legislation’s countywide benefits and resounding focus on equity. It will live up to its name by ensuring that new start-up organizations will receive opportunities for essential funding to open their doors, and that more than 500 arts, science, and heritage organizations will have the resources they need to keep their doors open.”
The Doors Open program is also co-sponsored by Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Sarah Perry, and was modeled after successful initiatives that have been adopted in Tacoma and Denver.
“Our arts, heritage, and science organizations create improved learning outcomes, provide access to good jobs, and help us develop a stronger economy and healthier communities,” Balducci said in the release. “Doors Open will give people in every corner of King County more opportunities to explore and experience the arts and culture that enriches all of our lives.”
Fifteen percent of Doors Open expenditures will go to public school student programs that have been left underfunded or cut due to budget balancing. In total, the levy is predicted to bring $12 million to support school partnerships, field trips, before- and after-school programs, transportation and admission costs, internships, free or discounted ticket programs, and more.
Funding through the program will additionally be put toward geographic equity, supporting communities that were most isolated and affected by the pandemic and its ongoing impacts, while also sowing new funding to create more cultural centers across the county, the release said.
The average annual cost for most households is expected to be $40.