Last week the parties challenging the constitutionality of Initiative 976 filed notice that they intended to appeal Judge Marshall Ferguson’s recent ruling directly to the state Supreme Court. Today they kicked off the arguments, with an emergency motion to stay Ferguson’s ruling until their appeal is resolved.
Continue readingCategory: tax
Judge issues new orders in Initiative 976 case
Today Judge Marshall Ferguson issued new orders in the legal challenge to Initiative 976, in response to requests from both the plaintiffs and defendants to reconsider parts of his February 12th ruling that largely upheld Initiative 976.
Continue readingMayor announce relief measures to address impact of COVID-19
This afternoon, Mayor Durkan announced a list of initial efforts to address the economic impacts that businesses and workers are feeling from the response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Continue readingCity and county officials discussing options for Transportation Benefit Districts
Seattle and King County officials have been discussing among themselves whether it would be preferable to renew the Seattle Transportation Benefit District funding in a fall ballot measure, or to propose a county-wide transportation benefit district in August instead.
Continue readingTwo years in, we still don’t know if Seattle’s soda tax is working
In June of 2017, the Seattle City Council passed a 1.75 cent-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages, which took effect on January 1, 2018. Today, over two years later, we still don’t have any idea whether it’s succeeding — or even a clear, agreed-upon definition of success. And that situation is unlikely to change soon.
Continue readingHB 2907 dies, but gets resurrected as HB 2948 (updated)
In the ongoing saga of the current state legislative session, last night was the deadline for bills to be passed out of their “house of origin.” One of the many bills that didn’t make it was HB 2907, the much-talked-about bill sponsored by Rep. Nicole Macri that would grant King County the authority to impose a payroll tax to pay for affordable housing and homeless services. For the last several days, Macri had been negotiating with a variety of stakeholders to find a compromise that could gather enough support to pass, and the clock ran out. But today, Macri introduced …
Continue readingBoth sides in I-976 lawsuit ask judge to reconsider ruling (updated)
Today both the plaintiffs and the defendants in the legal challenge to Initiative 976 filed motions for Judge Marshall Ferguson to reconsider his recent ruling.
Continue readingSawant unveils proposal for Seattle payroll tax
This morning, Council member Kshama Sawant unveiled her proposal for a new payroll tax in Seattle, independent of (and possibly on top of) one already proposed for King County. She said that her proposed tax would raise $300 million annually, of which 75% would be used for affordable housing and social services, and 25% for converting existing homes from oil and gas heat to electric systems.
Continue readingKing County judge upholds Initiative 976
This morning, King County Judge Marshall Ferguson handed down his ruling in the legal challenge to Initiative 976. In all but two of the issues, he upheld the constitutionality of the initiative — and the other two issues he postponed a ruling on until after additional discovery could be completed.
Continue readingCouncil hand-wringing over HB 2907 and the threat of preemption
While the state legislature is preparing to meet with stakeholders to hammer out the details of House Bill 2907, which would grant King County authorization to impose a payroll tax, Seattle officials continue to fret over whether the final bill will preempt the City of Seattle from imposing its own tax on top of the county’s.
Continue reading