... one intriguing aspect to watch is that the state constitution does not allow for a state income tax, let alone a city being able to formulate income tax for those who live in Seattle city proper.

This tax won't affect those who live outside of the Seattle city limits ... and more entertaining is that none of the Seattle City Council list there domiciles within Seattle City limits.

http://council.seattle.gov/201...tax-on-high-earners/
<snip>
Council unanimously approved legislation today creating a city income tax on high-income households to move Seattle toward a fairer, more progressive tax system.
The legislation (Council Bill 119002) is intended to reduce regressive taxes such as property taxes, and finance priorities like addressing the homelessness crisis and offsetting federal budget cuts.
The legislation will place a 2.25% tax rate on income over $250,000 year for individuals, or $500,000 for married couples filing jointly.
The tax will not affect any income earned below those thresholds, and is estimated to generate $140 million per year.

...

Unless challenged in court, the income tax on high earners will apply to income earned after January 1, 2018. Collection of 2018 taxes will begin April 15, 2019.
After the Mayor signs the legislation into law, the City’s Finance and Administrative Services Department (FAS) will undergo a rulemaking process for implementation and administration of the tax. FAS will report back to Council with a finalized set of rules by November 15, 2018.


Now it is expected to be challenged in court, as being unconstitutional for the State.

And some are raising the question on how to change the State constitution to allow precisely this. WA State income tax has long been the juicy tidbit that State Dems clamor for ... well after all, it's their money and we don't pay enough taxes, right?

quote:

Supporters say the tax would impact just 20,000 out of more than 660,000 Seattle residents. The city hopes its tax will provide an example and open discussions about changing tax structures in other local communities.

Well I imagine that this part at least will be successful. I'm sure there will be lots of "discussions"between people and their accountants and real estate brokers as they prepare to leave.

Wonder how many on the council make enough money to be hit by the 2.25% tax on the $250K and over minimum requirement...

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Wonder how many on the council make enough money to be hit by the 2.25% tax on the $250K and over minimum requirement...

Apparently NONE of them actually live in the city...

Another reason I can never move back to the PNW, sigh.

quote:

....We can fight back by requiring the wealthiest households to pay a fairer share of taxes

Curious how the "rob Peter to pay Paul" group always says their motivation is to be "fair".

When the Federal income tax was imposed, it was "just for the wealthy".

When the AMT was imposed, it was "just for the wealthy".

Will be the same in Seattle, I expect.

Ugh, yes from yahoo news ... 'nuff said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sea...00244--business.html

However, it's this quote ...

"There's something fundamentally wrong with elected officials passing a tax they know is against state law and the constitution with the hope of being sued and having a judge overturn prior decisions," Mercier said.

State law blocks a county or city from levying a tax on "net" income, although net income is not defined in the statute.

The Washington state Supreme Court has found that income is treated as property under the constitution and therefore has to be taxed uniformly and at no more than 1 percent of its value, Mercier said.

... I've asked many of my colleagues and friends what they think of this proposed city income tax; many have said what am I talking about ... it would seem that for many steeple in this state, they have no idea.

Just like Sound Transit's recent car tab renewal calculation method, which state voters said YES to, with little or no idea as to what it would actually mean to their pocketbooks.

... another example of civics not being taught in the public school system? Or something else ...

quote:

Originally posted by dusty3030:
“Seattle is challenging this state’s antiquated and unsustainable tax structure by passing a progressive income tax,” said Mayor Murray. “Our goal is to replace our regressive tax system with a new formula for fairness, while ensuring Seattle stands up to President Trump’s austere budget that cuts transportation, affordable housing, healthcare, and social services. This is a fight for economic stability, equity, and justice.”

Can you put Washington's state flag there and add the words "Equality through Taxation"?

quote:

Originally posted by dusty3030:
“Seattle is challenging this state’s antiquated and unsustainable tax structure by passing a progressive income tax,” said Mayor Murray. “Our goal is to replace our regressive tax system with a new formula for fairness, while ensuring Seattle stands up to President Trump’s austere budget that cuts transportation, affordable housing, healthcare, and social services. This is a fight for economic stability, equity, and justice.”

Last time I checked, the federal budget runs from Oct. 1, to Sept. 30, the following year.

Mayor Murray somehow is relating Obama's budget, the one that Congress recently voted to extended the debt limit on, to Trump?

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:

quote:

Originally posted by dusty3030:
“Seattle is challenging this state’s antiquated and unsustainable tax structure by passing a progressive income tax,” said Mayor Murray. “Our goal is to replace our regressive tax system with a new formula for fairness, while ensuring Seattle stands up to President Trump’s austere budget that cuts transportation, affordable housing, healthcare, and social services. This is a fight for economic stability, equity, and justice.”

Can you put Washington's state flag there and add the words "Equality through Taxation"?

The Seattle flag is more appropriate here, what with it being Seattle doing this nonsense, and it being against state law.



Just replace Chief Sealth with Lenin there, and change the slogan, perfect.

Regan said when he was an actor he quit working after he earned a certain amount. One he got pushed into the 90% bracket, he had no incentive. We've been down this progressive road before.

Wow. In the Fremont neighborhood they actually have a 16 foot statue of Lenin.

How is this a "fairer share" when tax rate is zero? Fucking idiots

They also forgot TN, no state income tax here either

How long before Starbucks, Amazon and Microsoft move?

... Bezos likely won't care, it's business; Isn't he prepping to run for 2020 anyway?

Expedia may also change their mind - they have a campus move to Lake Union on the plan.

This shows how deranged liberals are - they can't comprehend how spectacularly this will fail.

Leftists are as predictable as the boiling point of water...

quote:

Originally posted by downtownv:
How long before Starbucks, Amazon and Microsoft move?

Micro$haft won't have to move, they're headquartered out of Redmond.

Besides, it's an income tax, not a corporate tax...

This article in the Seattle Times has plenty of quotes from locals.

One 24-year old software developer--who only makes $170,000 a year and thus not enough to qualify for the mandatory donation--said, "I would love to be taxed."

What the hell is wrong with people? Why are so many so eager to suck up to the leviathan? It seems that many have replaced a belief in a deity with a belief in the state. But it's not enough that they believe. They must force everyone else to do it, too.

They talk about the regressive nature of existing taxes and how this new tax will counter that. But they haven't decided how to spend the money yet. Again, from Seattle Times: "Under the legislation sponsored by Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Kshama Sawant, money from the tax could be used by the city to lower property taxes and other regressive taxes; address homelessness; provide affordable housing, education and transit; replace federal funding lost through budget cuts; create green jobs and meet carbon-reduction goals; and administer the tax."

Any organization that says, "We don't know what we want to spend this money on, but give us more" should be ridiculed, and its senior members fired.

I guess the silver lining in all this is that these officials are elected. They can be unelected. We also live in a big country with lots of economic choices, and as many have pointed out, voting with one's pocket book--or moving truck--is an alternative to paying a bunch of coveting communists.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Leftists are as predictable as the boiling point of water...

The higher they are, the less energy required to get them to boil over?