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FIPS: 53033•Rank #50 National•Rank #1 in WA
King County, WA
Forward-Looking Municipal Debt, Assessment Lag & Carrying Cost Audit
Elevated Tax Drift Risk
96% Conf.
Tax Drift Index
58.8/ 100
Elevated Drift Risk
King County Executive Risk Briefing
MSRB EMMA Disclosures & US Census BureauAugust 2026
King County carries a Elevated Tax Drift Score (58.8/100) based on $8,400 in overlapping municipal debt per capita and a +23% CAD assessment lag spread. Projected 3-year millage escalation of +0.11% (+11 bps) indicates an estimated +$2,218/yr escrow adjustment on median-priced properties.
Median Home: $880,000Median Income: $110,000Effective Tax: 0.8%
Municipal Debt Per Capita
$8,400
7.6% of Median Income
CAD Valuation Lag
+23.0%
Assessed Value trailing Market HPI
3-Yr Millage Escalation
+11 bps
Effective Rate: 0.8% → 1.0%
Projected Annual Escrow Shock
+$2,218/yr
Estimated on median assessed home
Interactive Property Tax & Escrow Shock Simulator
Model forward-looking ad valorem tax obligations and monthly escrow adjustments for a specific parcel in King County, WA.
$880,000
$0
Current Annual Tax
$7,480
@ 0.85% eff. rate
Year 3 Projected Tax
$9,698
@ 0.96% eff. rate
Net Escrow Increase
+$2,218/yr
+$185/mo mortgage escrow
Projected Shock Attribution Breakdown+11 bps rate shift
1. Muni Bond Debt Service
+5 bps
I&S bond amortization
2. Operating Deficit Drift
+6 bps
M&O budget expansion
3. CAD Valuation Catch-up
+$1,118/yr
+$131,560 assessed base
Overlapping Taxing Jurisdictions & Debt Obligations
Breakdown of autonomous debt issuers assessing ad valorem property taxes on parcels within King County.
| Entity Name | Entity Type | Outstanding Bond Debt | Debt / Student or Cap | Adopted Millage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Public Schools | ISD | $1.9B | $38,000 | 0.220% |
5-Year Historical Drift Score & Effective Rate Trajectory
2022
52
0.8% eff.
2023
54
0.8% eff.
2024
56
0.8% eff.
2025
58
0.8% eff.
2026
58.8
0.8% eff.
Statutory Constraint & Legislative Policy
Washington State 1% annual levy growth limit requires voter-approved excess levies for school maintenance and transit.
Data Provenance & Audit Citations