This morning the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce announced that it has filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court arguing that the “Jump Start” payroll tax passed by the Seattle City Council last summer violates the Washington State Constitution.
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Pedersen, Herbold, Lewis propose $40 car-tab fee to increase bridge maintenance
This week Council members Pedersen, Herbold and Lewis are jointly introducing a last-minute addition to the 2021 budget that would increase the city’s car-tab fee from $20 to $40, in order to raise additional funds for much-needed bridge maintenance.
Continue readingMosqueda unveils 2021 budget balancing package
This afternoon, Council budget chair Teresa Mosqueda rolled out her “balancing package,” a collection of changes to the Mayor’s 2021 proposed budget that address Council members’ consensus priorities, while keeping the overall budget balanced as required by law. The package follows through with the cuts to SPD they proposed two weeks ago, and it cuts Mayor’s Durkan’s $100 million Equitable Communities Initiative down to $30 million. Shortly after it was released, Durkan issued a press release… largely praising it. Wait, what was that again?
Continue readingCouncil advances Transportation Benefit District renewal
This morning the City Council moved a proposed renewal to the Seattle Transportation Benefit District out of committee, after deliberating on several amendments. Assuming it is approved by the full Council on July 27, it will be in front of Seattle voters on the November ballot.
Continue readingCouncil advances spending plans for payroll tax
This morning, the City Council’s budget committee advanced two bills that form the spending plan for the recently-passed payroll tax.
Continue readingMayor proposes slimmed-down renewal of Seattle Transportation Benefit District
This afternoon the Mayor’s Office announced its proposal for renewing the Seattle Transportation Benefit District. Assuming the voters approve, it will be substantially slimmed down from the current STBD that expires at the end of the year.
Continue readingCity Council passes payroll tax
This afternoon, the City Council passed by a 7-2 vote the much-touted “Jump Start Seattle” payroll tax proposal — with a couple of last-minute amendments.
Continue readingCouncil passes payroll tax out of committee, up for final vote Monday
This afternoon the City Council voted out of committee a proposed payroll tax, setting it up for final adoption next Monday.
Continue readingMosqueda introduces her own “Amazon tax” proposal
This morning, Council member Teresa Mosqueda unveiled her own progressive revenue proposal for Seattle, which is at once both a “light” version of her colleagues’ “Amazon tax” proposal, and also even more explicitly targeted at Amazon.
Continue readingSawant schedules Thursday committee meeting to discuss payroll tax
In a somewhat bizarre move, Council member Sawant has called a meeting of her Sustainability and Renters Rights Committee for Thursday evening to discuss the proposed payroll tax that she and Council member Morales have introduced.
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