by Stuart Jenner
If you were surprised to get a ballot in your mail box recently, you’re not the only one. There is a vote on April 22, 2025 for the continuation of AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) used by King County.
Here’s what you need to know.
We reached out to District 5 Councilmember DeSean Quinn, who then referred Burien News to Daniel DeMay in the King County Council communications department. Here’s some information based on his responses plus information on the AFIS ballot measure web page.
What is AFIS?
It is a system to store and process crime scene finger prints, palm prints and other identifying information. Learn more in the “longer explanation of AFIS” at the end of the story.
How much does the levy cost?
From the ballot explanation: “2.75 cents ($0.0275) or less per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of assessed valuation on all taxable property within King County. For example, a home assessed at $885,000 in 2026, would have a maximum levy amount of $24.34 in the first year.” The levy runs from 2026 through 2032, so it is for seven years.
Is this a new tax?
On Dec 31, 2024, the previous AFIS measure passed in 2018 expired. So, this is a replacement for an expired tax that is not being collected in 2025, but was collected in previous years. The AFIS program in 2025 is running on funds previously collected. The first AFIS measure was passed in 1986.
What is the total amount raised?
According to the council staff report, published on January 8,
“The levy would generate approximately $25.3 million in 2026 and approximately $188.8 million over the seven-year levy period from 2026 to 2032.”[1] The proposed rate is lower and the levy period is longer than the rate and term approved by voters in 2017.
[1] Forecast determined by the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget with assessed value figures provided by the Office of Economic and Financial Analysis.
Longer explanation of AFIS
Administered by the King County Sheriff Office, the council staff report states: “the King County Sheriff’s Office provides services to all cities and unincorporated areas in the County.” It goes on to add:
“The AFIS levy has allowed King County to establish operations and the technology to collect, search, and store fingerprints and palmprints in an electronic database. King County is the only county in Washington with its own AFIS computer[1], and is the only county with a shared, regional model that provides services to all local law enforcement agencies. This database helps identify arrested individuals through fingerprint matching, solve crimes by identifying ‘latent’ prints left at crime scenes, and establish criminal history.”
[1] The AFIS computer was converted to a modern cloud-based system during the 2019-2024 levy period.
Is AFIS just a computer system?
No, there’s a lot more than just a database. The system includes 56 Livescan capture stations used to collect “fingerprints, palmprints, mugshot and tattoo photographs, and other identifying arrest data for submission into the local AFIS database.“ Also, there are 220 MobileID devices that help officers in the field with decisions about whether a suspect should be taken to jail or released.
Why run this levy in April as a standalone when there are no other measures sharing the cost of the election?
The cost of running this election, according to the council report, is $3.4 to $4.59 million dollars. The council report states “Executive staff state that the King County Parks Levy is anticipated to be on the August ballot and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy is anticipated to be on the November ballot.” So, by running this as a standalone, it is not competing with the Parks and EMS levies. Those amounts are not specified in this council report.
Ballots are due on April 22, 2025.
One Response
First of all, I believe that AFIS should not be a tax levy, but rather a portion of the law enforcement budget for King county. Secondly, at least $3 million could have been saved by including this levy with either the August primary or November general election. Holding this special election for one levy is a waste of taxpayer money by our county government. Again.