WA mayors urge state leaders to avoid more taxes for businesses: ‘Crisis is existential’; Washington Democrats divided on school funding plans

WA mayors urge state leaders to avoid more taxes for businesses: ‘Crisis is existential’

The Olympian — A coalition of Washington mayors is urging lawmakers to refrain from heaping more taxes onto the state’s businesses. Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus said at a March 28 press conference that certain proposed tax measures would work to destabilize the state’s economy. That, she said, could lead to lasting, negative effects on the region’s economic competitiveness and fiscal health. Backus noted two Democrat-backed revenue ideas, specifically: a proposed payroll excise tax and an increased business and occupation (B&O) tax on large companies. $

Washington Democrats divided on school funding plans

Washington State Standard — Funding of Washington’s public schools is one of the tougher wrinkles House and Senate budget writers must iron out in the weeks ahead. Democrat-drafted proposals in the two chambers are demonstrably different in how much is spent on special education, what grant programs are cut and when state funds are distributed to school districts. And it’s unclear what Democrats will do if new taxes they are counting on for billions of dollars for education are not approved.

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