New Proposed Taxes in Washington state.....

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by zerp

Why? Shouldn’t the additional population contribute to the tax base?

....

Does your county/ municipality levy impact fees for new development?

Washington State has very high impact fees in some areas. Other states I have built in have Zero impact fees. +/-

With additional growth (WA has plenty), and increased valuations (WA has plenty). There is gobs of tax money flowing. Now to be responsible on using that free flow of cash...

If you have spent lots of time with government agencies (including schools) you will know how inefficient and unreasonable they operate. A revenue business would fail immediately if managed that way. Thus the privatization frees mega bucks, and enables huge corruption from all parties with their hands in the pot to prosper. Just go visit india, Italy, Greece, Philippines.... Russia. Wow, the prosperous are very prosperous! At taxpayer / laborer / wage slave expense. America is quick to follow, maybe lead by Washington (not DC).

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by zerp

Why? Shouldn’t the additional population contribute to the tax base?

Also on the topic of gas tax, WA has the amongst the highest gas tax in the nation, but is ranked #42 in road quality:


https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/infrastructure/transportation/road-quality

States with gas taxes 1/2 to 1/3 Washington’s are ranked way higher.

For example, Kentucky, South Carolina, Kansas, etc. Even Mississippi is ranked higher. That’s embarrassing.

Yep, paying some of the highest taxes in the country for some of the worst infrastructure. Likewise with healthcare.

[Gabor25]

I am a relative newcomer to WA state, after living in Minnesota for 30 years.

Is this state really part of the USA?

The Seattle area is unlivable.The direct result of the massive influx of IT and other corporations that dominate the state.

Those entities are responsible for the huge disparity and huge house prices.

I say that THEY should be responsible for the extra taxes, not the average citizen!

Level the playing field!

Bezos et al pay practically no taxes!

At least, start in Seattle where a surtax can fund the police, social workers and other professionals who can directly help improve the homeless situation.

So what if the corporations leave?

their departure will be accompanied by the hundreds of thousands of overly paid support staff .Home affordability will take a leap forward in that case.

Other major cities have lost their coveted "companies".After a few years, the lifestyle and cost of living improved and crime was reduced.

I won't go into a diatribe on the completely dysfunctional ,corrupt and non responsive civic, county and state governments here...

[509]

The "funny" part is that the corporations paid their fair share in Washington state until 1982.

Boeing ran into financial difficulty and the Democrats decided to bail out Boeing. Then it became pretty much a one party state a few years later, and corporate taxes were dropped and the tax base transferred to small business and consumers (sales tax).

A few years ago, Boeing, once again, blackmailed the state and illegal tax subsidies were given to them. Years later, a court decision found them illegal, but I have NOT seen an article or anything that suggests Boeing paid the state of Washington back.

At the time I did a quick analysis, and for the tax subsidies the state of Washington could have bought controlling interest in Boeing. Broke up the company, keeping the aircraft division in Washington and profited from the sale of the other divisions. Instead Inslee and the Democrats chose to pay Boeing, which promptly reneged on the deal, but kept the money.

There was a study by the Office of Financial Management a few years ago and B&O taxes and sales taxes accounted for the lion's share of state tax revenue.

Corporations are pretty much exempt from taxes in Washington state.

One Party rule will do that, especially if it is the Democrats running things.

"we have the best government money can buy in Washington state".