Seattle income tax passes with unanimous council approval

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The city council unanimously passed a Seattle income tax Monday, positioning the city for a legal battle.

“Washington state’s tax system is unfair and is not just,” Councilmember Tim Burgess said shortly before the council voted 9-0 to pass the income tax and the council chambers erupted with applause.

“That is my core motivation for supporting this legislation today,” he said. “State tax reform is needed here in Washington state so our lowest income residents pay less, our middle class neighbors pays about the same, and our highest income residents pay more. That would be a just system.”

The 2.25 percent Seattle income tax would apply to earnings after Jan. 1, 2018. Seattle residents who make more than $250,000, or $500,000 for joint filers, will have a tax free income of that amount. After that, they will be taxed at the 2.25 percent rate.

http://mynorthwest.com/688774/seattle-income-tax-passes/

[customerserviceguy]

1. I would expect

that a lot of small, closely-held companies will be moving to Bellevue, along with their CEO's. After all, most of them already live there.

[keopeli]

2. Most of the wealthy people I know in Seattle would welcome a higher tax rate

especially on the local or state level. They've tried for years to increase their own taxes, but failed at the state level because of Tim Eyeman.

Not all rich people believe in usury and taxing the poor. The ones that do, as you point out, live outside the city.

Just another reason why I love Seattle.

Side note: those in Seattle that I know who would hate a tax like this are not wealthy at all.