Hello CAPR King Members and Friends!
Meet at the Four Horsemen Thursday June 25th for our regular monthly meeting. This month the topic for discussion is our constitution.
What are the problems we face in keeping our constitution relevent and meaningful as a guide for citizens and legislators?
As always, great conversation, great friends, and great food!
See you there!
Your CAPR King Chapter
December 4, 2025
By Dominique Scarimbolo, CAPR King County President
King County’s Outside Counsel Monopoly: How Taxpayer Dollars Are Used to Block Taxpayers
Through extensive public-records requests, CAPR has uncovered a deeply troubling pattern inside King County government: the County has spent over $56 million on outside legal counsel since the year 2000—despite already employing hundreds of attorneys in-house.
The records we obtained show 20,334 payments to 1,607 different payees, with a staggering $43.6 million (about 78%) of all spending going to 629 private law firms. These are not small solo practices—many are major institutional firms with the staff, resources, and litigation power normally needed to stand up to government agencies.
By Cindy Alia 2/13/26
Washington state is confronting a deepening electricity affordability crisis as rapidly growing demand clashes with clean energy transitions, grid constraints, and escalating utility rates. The Pacific Northwest has long enjoyed relatively low electricity prices due to abundant hydropower, but that advantage is fading fast.
Recent reports highlight heightened risks of brownouts or rolling blackouts in extreme conditions, while policies like the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) drive both necessary changes and added costs. For many residents—especially those already stretched by high housing, groceries, and living expenses—these pressures feel immediate and burdensome, often outweighing the longer-term "green rewards" of emissions reductions or future efficiency savings.
By Dominique Scarimbolo, CAPR King Chapter President, 2/16/26
Bottom Line:
SSB 6162 is not a bad bill — but it is not meaningful property tax reform. It expands an existing relief program for a narrow group and rebrands part of the tax system, without fixing the underlying problems driving Washington’s property tax crisis.
