I was at the city council's viaduct hearing all afternoon, so I couldn't make it to this afternoon's King County Council meeting on a proposed countwide 0.2 percent sales-tax increase.

However, the P-I.com's Chris Grygiel reports that the council, led by council member Julia Patterson, voted along predictable party lines (five Democrats for, four Republicans against) to put the proposal on the November ballot. If the measure passes, it will be divided 60-40 percent between the county and cities, including Seattle.

The county's portion would pay to preserve the sheriff's department and prosecutor's office at their current levels. One-third of the city's portion would have to be dedicated to public safety.