TELL DEMOCRATS THEY DON’T NEED MORE OF YOUR MONEY
The Senate Ways & Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee will both hear a variety of bills this week that will impose new or higher taxes and fees on Washington taxpayers.
Two of the bills give state and/or local governments the ability to raise taxes WITHOUT voter approval. Current law allows those tax increases if voters approve. Why shut voters out of deciding how much of their money the government gets?
Learn how to testify against these bills.
You can testify in person at the Capitol Campus in Olympia or remotely via Zoom.
You can also submit written testimony.
“SHR 4” is Senate Hearing Room 4 in the John A. Cherberg Building.
“HHR A” is House Hearing Room A in the John L. O’Brien Building.
In the Senate
In the Senate, many or all of the following bills will be heard this week and, likely, passed out of committee Thursday or Friday. You can tell the chair of the committee NOT to let these bills get a vote.
TODAY AT 1:30 PM, SHR 4
- Allows K-12 school bonds to pass with a simple majority. The $750 million estimate of what this bill would cost you is on the low side, as it estimates what it would cost with 55% approval. It will be higher if the requirement lowers to 51%
- Like Costco 24 Packs of Bottled Water? You’ll Pay $2.40 More (SB 5502)
- Imposes a 10-cent refundable charge on all beverage containers, though most people will likely not know to seek the refund.
TUESDAY AT 1:30 PM, SHR 4
- 35% State Property Tax Increase for Rental Properties and all Business Properties (SJR 8203/SB 5770)
- The state property tax is projected to go from $1.75 to $2.36 for every, but with tax shift. If a home’s value is under twice median county value, the owner will see a net tax reduction
- Staying at an AirBNB in Washington? You’ll pay more (SB 5576)
- Imposes a new 6% sales tax on rentals.
- Like to go to State Parks? You’ll Pay 50% More (SB 5390)
- Raises the day-use fee from $10 to $15, and raises the price of the annual Discover Pass from $30 to $45.
- Like to go Hunting or Fishing? You’ll Pay 38% More (SB 5583)
- Raises base licensing fees by 38%.
- Getting Around Voter Approval on Local Sales Tax Increases (SB 5775)
- Allows local governments to raise sales taxes for public safety purposes WITHOUT voter approval. Current law allows local governments to impose up to 0.3% sales tax increase for public safety purposes, if approved by voters.
WEDNESDAY AT 1:30 PM, SHR 4
- Doubling 988 Cellphone Tax Rate (SB 5762)
- Only two years after the imposition of the original cellphone tax, this bill raises the per-line rate from 40 cents to 80 cents per month. Doubling the tax rate means Washingtonians will pay the third highest cellphone tax of any state in the country (Source: Tax Foundation).
In the House of Representatives
TUESDAY AT 8:00 A.M. IN HHR A
- Tripling the Growth Rate of State Property Tax (HB 1356)
- Allows the state to triple the rate at which it can raise your property taxes every year without voter approval.
- Also increases the amount K-12 school districts can collect from taxpayers locally via local school levies.
- Death Tax Increase (HB 2019)
- Increases the state estate tax rates sizably, which would give Washington the highest estate tax rate in the nation.
How much more can Washington taxpayers take?
Increasing taxes on property increases home prices and it increases rents for those who can’t yet afford to purchase a home.
Tax bills that allow the government to take even more of your money WITHOUT your approval should trigger an alarm for taxpayers. If the government needs that money, they should ask for it — not take it.
Tell the chairs of both budget committees that you have had enough. The Legislature should make due with the taxes it already collects.
Senate budget chair: June.robinson@leg.wa.gov
House budget chair: timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov