Yesterday, Seattle Hearing Examiner Ryan Vancil informed the parties in an appeal related to Transportation Impact Fees that he was re-opening the hearing “to address a narrow question of law not fully briefed by the parties in their closing arguments.”
Continue reading Hearing Examiner reopens hearing on Transportation Impact Fees
Last Friday, the Council had a first committee hearing on Mayor Durkan’s proposed new tax on heating oil. The details turn out to be very interesting (in a good way).
Last Friday Mayor Jenny Durkan vetoed the ordinance setting new restrictions on how Sweetened Beverage Tax revenues can be spent. Vetoes are incredibly rare in Seattle City Hall, so that sent everyone (including me) scrambling to the City Charter to see what happens next. Yes, we all know in theory how it works, but the details matter.
Continue reading Durkan vetoed the soda tax bill; here’s what happens next
This morning, Mayor Durkan held a press conference to announce two measures to help address the ongoing housing crisis in the city.
Continue reading Mayor announces pair of affordable housing measures
This afternoon the City Council passed, each by a 7-1 vote, a pair of bills that set up separate funds into which the Sweetened Beverage Tax and Short-term Rental Tax revenues must be deposited, along with stricter rules for how the revenues may be spent — despite a threat from Mayor Durkan to veto the bills.
Continue reading Council passes restrictions on soda tax and AirBnB tax spending
Today Washington State Senator Steve O’Ban sent a letter to Attorney General Bob Ferguson urging him to defend the state law prohibiting taxes on net income, after a Court of Appeals invalidated the law on Monday.
Continue reading Ferguson urged by legislator to defend statewide ban on taxing net income
In their second major rift this week, today the City Council and Mayor Durkan fired accusations at each other over how to handle revenues from the Sweetened Beverage Tax (aka the “soda tax”) and the Short-term Rental Tax (aka the “AirBnB tax”).
Continue reading Council and Mayor hold public spat over “soda tax” and “AirBnB tax” (UPDATED)
Today the state Court of Appeals released a decision in the appeal of the City of Seattle’s income tax. While it ultimately agreed with the King County Superior Court judge that the income tax is prohibited, it did so on a completely different basis — one that makes an appeal to the state Supreme Court inevitable but messier.
Pour yourself a stiff drink; you’re going to need it.
This past Wednesday, the City Council met in committee to discuss the Sweetened Beverage Tax passed two years ago. At issue is how the revenues generated from the tax should be spent.
To their credit, city officials are at least being honest about the mess they’ve created.
The City of Seattle had a key hearing in front of the state Court of Appeals today as it tries to rescue its income tax ordinance, and it didn’t go well.
Continue reading Seattle has a rough day in court defending its income tax