Taxes

193 Stories

Government

How the Seattle City Council plans to patch a budget hole with JumpStart revenue

Seattle will use money originally earmarked for affordable housing to plug a $250 million hole in the city’s budget.
Joshua McNichols
Government

Seattle's capital gains tax appears unlikely to pass

Washington State voters showed broad support for the State’s Capital Gains tax this November. But the idea for a much smaller city version in Seattle is struggling to stay alive. A crucial vote is likely to occur next week.
Joshua McNichols
Government

Seattle could get its own baby capital gains tax

On Tuesday, Seattle City Councilmember Cathy Moore plans to present the city council with a new idea: A 2% capital gains tax. It’s a baby version of the 7% capital gains tax voters just upheld for Washington State.
Joshua McNichols
Elections

What the Seahawks can teach us about Washington's capital gains tax

Washington has a lot of wealthy residents. But much of their wealth isn't taxed by the state. At least, it wasn’t, until the capital gains tax came along a couple years ago. Now, there's an initiative on the ballot to repeal it.
Joshua McNichols
Government

Are we on the brink of a tax revolt in Washington state?

Cities all over the region have big property tax levies on the ballot this year. There's a transportation levy in Seattle, a levy to modernize the fire department in Tacoma, and a levy to pay for public safety and libraries in Everett. Increasingly, elected officials rely on these levies to pay for core services. But some taxpayers are signaling there’s an end to their generosity. KUOW's Joshua McNichols looks at how we got here - and whether we’re at risk of a tax revolt.
Joshua McNichols
Politics

Are Washington’s wealthiest waiting out the state’s capital gains tax?

The state's wealthiest residents might be holding on to their stocks in hopes of avoiding Washington's capital gains tax, which has been challenged by an initiative that goes before voters in November. The tax charges a 7% tax for stock, bond, or mutual fund sales in excess of $250,000.
Scott Greenstone
Politics

Seattle is minting millionaires by the thousands

About 1 in every 14 Seattleites are millionaires, making it second only to the Bay Area for “millionaire density.”
Monica Nickelsburg
Economy

Off the Charts: Seattle is the priciest tourist city in the U.S. Should you go to Portland instead?

KUOW compared tourist must-haves in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver to find the most affordable city for tourists looking to get that Pacific Northwest experience this summer.
Teo Popescu
Politics

Off the Charts: Did Seattle defund the police?

In 2020, protests following the police murder of George Floyd started a movement to defund police departments across the U.S. – including Seattle. Four years later, what, if anything, has changed?
Teo Popescu
Government

Police pursuit, parent rights, income tax initiatives poised for final vote in Olympia

Lawmakers are plowing ahead with three high-profile voter initiatives. The Legislature plans to take a final vote on the measures Monday, despite concerns from members of the Democratic majority.
Jeanie Lindsay

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