Supporters of an income tax on Seattle’s wealthiest packed council chambers on May 31 and spoke overwhelmingly in favor of the measure, which would raise as much as $125 million per year for city coffers.
As proposed, the ordinance would levy a 1.5 percent tax on earnings over $250,000. Though proponents have not listed specific uses of the money, they expect it would be used to bolster city spending in the face of likely funding cuts from the federal government.
The concept of an income tax has received pushback from business people and attorneys, who said that the measure would raise legal challenges in a state that has banned income tax.
Trump-Proof Seattle, a coalition of organizations opposed to the president and his policies, said that they see a potential legal battle as an opportunity to reform Washington’s court decisions that ban an income tax.
Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Twitter @AshleyA_RC
Wait, there's more. Read the full June 7 issue.
Real Change is reader supported. Just $5 a month provides work for more than 300 active vendors and keeps community journalism strong.