Washington voters will get a say in the fate of the millionaires' tax, a 9.9% tax on incomes more than $1 million that lawmakers passed earlier this year.

Opponents got enough signatures to challenge it on the ballot.

Multimedia journalist Venice Buhain tells us more.

VO: Washington's much debated millionaires' tax is going before voters in November.

Initiative 645 will ask voters whether to repeal the tax or leave it in place.

Washington state has been one of nine states without an income tax, but in March, Gov.

Bob Ferguson signed a new 9.9% tax on annual household incomes exceeding $1 million.

For a household, making $1.2 million in one year, the tax will apply to $200,000 of their income.

The first collection would be due in April 2029.

It is expected to collect more than $3 billion per year.

The new tax was immediately met with opposition.

Political organization Let's Go Washington gathered more than 500,000 signatures to get the measure on November ballots.

A yes vote repeals the new tax.

A no vote keeps the new tax in place.

Supporters of Initiative 645 say the new tax opens the door to future taxes on incomes lower than $1 million, though the governor has said he would block any attempt to do so.

FERGUSON: I've made it clear I would veto any legislation that tried to lower that amount.

VO: The ballot measure also explicitly prohibits income taxes.

Opponents of the ballot measure say repealing the tax would decrease funding for education and health care.

They also say that tax cuts that were passed this year for working families and small businesses are unsustainable without the millionaires' tax.

If Initiative 645 fails, the challenges continue in court.

Still pending is a lawsuit over whether the millionaires' tax violates the state constitution.

For Cascade PBS, this is Venice Buhain.

JACKSON: Next time, we'll tell you what's at stake in the Seattle City Council race.

I'm Paris Jackson.

Thanks for watching The Newsfeed.