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 readingCategory: tax
Council 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.
Continue reading“Amazon Tax” bill is off the table — for now.
According to a memo issued today, Council President Lorena Gonzalez has decided that the payroll tax bill put forward by Council members Sawant and Morales does not meet the criteria for allowed Council actions under Governor Inslee’s proclamation modifying the terms of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Public Records Act (PRA). As such, the Council may not continue deliberations on it while the Governor’s proclamation remains in effect, and next Wednesday’s Budget Committee meeting to discuss the bill has been cancelled.
Continue readingAmazon posts earnings report
Amazon released its quarterly earnings report today: worldwide net sales increased 26% to $75.5 billion, but operating income decreased about 10% to $4 billion, and net income decreased 30% to $2.5 billion. Back in February I wrote an article looking at what Amazon actually pays in income taxes, and delving a bit into the fundamentals of its business. With new numbers and an active effort in Seattle to impose a payroll tax on the company, let’s update those numbers.
Continue readingCouncil discusses details of proposed payroll tax
Yesterday in another marathon committee meeting, the City Council delved further into the intricacies of the payroll tax proposal put forth by Council members Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales.
Continue reading