Olympia to consider local income tax to send kids to college

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The Olympia City Council is drafting an ordinance that would tax all city households to create a fund to send kids to college. The proposal would go before voters in November.

If the idea becomes law, Olympia could become the first city in Washington with a local income tax.

The Olympian reports (https://is.gd/6xxZm6) it comes in response to a local petition. The council voted 4-3 on Tuesday night to draft a tax proposal.

Volunteer group Opportunity for Olympia began circulating a petition in April that seeks a 1.5 percent tax on any household income in excess of $200,000. The tax would be expected to raise about $2.5 million to pay the first year of tuition at any community college or apply tuition at a public university for every public high school graduate in Olympia.