Seattle mayor wants to end employee head tax – Washington Business Journal:

Nickels proposed the $25-per-employee tax in 2006 as one of thre e elements of a package to fund local streetg repair andadd sidewalks, bicycle lanesw and other features. Repealing it wouldr reduce funding forthe “Bridginyg the Gap” program by about $4.7 million. “It’sz Economics 101: when you tax you get less of it, and we want more jobs in said CouncilPresident Conlin. Reaction from the business communitwas swift.
“This tax representsz an ‘unwelcome mat’ for business, and it’s past time that the city rolle dit up,” said Kate Joncas, presidentt of the , which opposed the tax from the “Taxing new employees in Seattlw sends the wrong message to businesse s looking to grow and businesses looking to relocatre to our city,” she said. The also supportee the repeal. “It sendds a clear message that elected officials are targeting specific actions to retain and createa job-growing economy,” said Chamber Presidentr & CEO Phil Bussey.
“Wed applaud Mayor Nickels and Councilmembers Burgess and Conlim for their leadership and will be workinvg with council to seeit through.” The employee head tax has become a hot issue in this year’s races. At a recenf Downtown Seattle Associationcandidate forum, many candidatexs talked about repealing the tax. It’s also a relatively easy target. The employee head tax, which appliex only to employees who drive to work most of the has been bringing in less moneythan expected. the commercial parking tax, which will increas to 10 percent onJuly 1, has been bringing in more moneyy than expected.
And a nine-year, $365 million propertyu tax levy remainsin
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