The Washington Education Association (WEA), the union representing Tacoma Public Schools teachers and staff, has donated more than $3 million to defeat Initiative 645. That makes the WEA the single largest donor in a $12.8 million campaign to preserve Washington's new high-earner income tax.

The Nov. 3 ballot measure would repeal the 9.9% tax on annual household income above $1 million. The tax is projected to raise more than $3 billion a year for the state operating budget, which funds K-12 schools, healthcare and other public services, according to The Seattle Times.

A "yes" vote repeals the tax. A "no" vote keeps it.

Tani Lindquist, WEA vice president, told The Seattle Times that educators fear a repeal would punch a multibillion-dollar hole in the state budget. She called the union's $3 million political donation, funded by member dues, worth the cost.

"They know it will be devastating to public schools and social programs if this gets repealed," Lindquist said.

The pension claim

Backers of I-645 have targeted teachers and other public employees with ads claiming the tax threatens their pensions. The Yes on I-645 campaign ran ads featuring Tim Manly, a fire chief in Brinnon, Jefferson County, who accuses lawmakers of breaking a promise to public workers.

The claim centers on technical language in the law specifying that public pensions are not exempt from the tax.

In practice, that language has little current effect on retirees. The tax applies only to household income above $1 million. The highest individual state pension payout is $385,292 a year, according to Adam Torgerson, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.

The state's largest pension plan, known as PERS 2 (Public Employees' Retirement System Plan 2), pays an average of roughly $33,000 a year to recent retirees with 21 to 25 years of service, the department's latest annual report shows.

Steve Gordon, chair of the Yes on I-645 campaign, conceded to The Seattle Times that the tax as enacted would not immediately affect pension recipients.

He argued the pension language signals lawmakers plan to lower the $1 million threshold later.

Gov. Bob Ferguson has vowed to veto any expansion of the tax to lower income brackets, The Seattle Times reported.

Some Democratic state lawmakers have discussed doing so in exchange for cutting other taxes.

Labor responds

April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council, said in an online video that a teacher in Olympia would have to work 278 years to earn pension benefits exceeding $1 million. The labor council also mailed postcards to voters with that message.

The WEA's advocacy page urges members to vote no on I-645, calling it a measure that would cut billions in funding for education, healthcare and childcare.

Campaign money

The No on I-645 campaign had raised $12.8 million as of Oct. 23, The Seattle Times reported. Other top union donors include SEIU 775 at $1.64 million and the National Education Association at $1 million, according to The Stranger.

The Yes on I-645 campaign has raised $3.3 million. Top donors include Redmond hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who bankrolled the initiative, and retired Medina businessman Lawrence Hughes, who gave $1 million.

The state's Office of Financial Management estimates I-645 would cost the state $11.4 billion in revenue between fiscal years 2027 and 2031, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Ballots are due Nov. 3.