Tomorrow afternoon the City Council will likely give its final approval to a modification to the “Jump Start” payroll tax ordinance it passed last summer. If you read the memo written by Council staff, you will see a feel-good story about the city making this change as a result of feedback from companies. But that’s not what’s really going on with this change: in truth, it’s an attempt to fix a potentially fatal flaw in the ordinance before a King County Superior Court judge hears a challenge to it next month.
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Chamber of Commerce files legal challenge to Seattle payroll tax
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.
Continue readingUnderstanding the Mayor’s 2021 budget proposal
This afternoon, Mayor Jenny Durkan officially released her budget proposal for next year. Let’s dive in to the details and see what’s in there.
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 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 readingCouncil takes up payroll tax this week; here’s what to expect
On Wednesday, the Seattle City Council will begin its deliberations on the proposed “Amazon Tax” on payroll proposed by Council members Sawant and Morales. But there are many issues on the table that will need to be hashed out before a bill is adopted.
Continue readingSawant, Morales unveil “Amazon tax” bills (updated)
This morning, Council members Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales jointly unveiled their legislation to impose a new payroll tax on businesses in Seattle.
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