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

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Nickels proposed the $25-per-employee tax in 2006 as one of threer elements of a package to fund local stree repair andadd sidewalks, bicycle lanes and otheer features. Repealing it would reduce funding forthe “Bridging the program by about $4.7 million. “It’s Economics 101: when you tax you get less of it, and we want more jobs in said CouncilPresident Conlin. Reaction from the businesd communitywas swift. “This tax represents an ‘unwelcome mat’ for business, and it’z past time that the city rolled it saidKate Joncas, president of the , which opposef the tax from the beginning.
“Taxing new employees in Seattle sendsx the wrong message to businesses looking to grow and businessesa looking to relocate toour city,” she said. The also supportef the repeal. “It sends a cleafr message that elected officials are targeting specific actionds to retain and createa job-growing economy,” said Chamber Presideny & CEO Phil Bussey. “W applaud Mayor Nickels and Councilmemberz Burgess and Conlin for their leadership and will be workingf with council to see it The employee head tax has become a hot issur inthis year’s races. At a recent Downtown Seattle Associationcandidate forum, many candidates talked abouyt repealing the tax.
It’s also a relatively easy target. The employeew head tax, which applies only to employeesx who drive to work most ofthe time, has been bringint in less money than expected. the commercial parking tax, which will increase to 10 percent onJuly 1, has been bringinh in more money than expected. And a $365 million property tax levy remain sin place.