CHS hall of famer Uncle Vinny asks:
A store clerk guy told me the other day that the sales tax had gone up a few tenths of a percent, recently, but didn’t know if it was from King County or the city, or…? Anyone know about this?
Here’s the scoop straight from the Washington State Department of Revenue. On April 1st, sales tax in King County bumped up half a percentage point to 9.5% thanks to the passage of Prop 1 back in November. The proposition, you might recall, called on voters in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties to approve or reject a sales tax increase to fund transit projects in the region. So, Uncle Vinny, you are the answer to your own question. And, as Seattle Transit Blog puts it, the increase is “totally worth it.”
Fancy Pants residents want a state income tax on higher incomes! And cut the sales tax.
Yes we can pay our share.
I’m totally down with the transit, ‘course. I just think it should be paid with by income tax or property taxes on those of us that can afford it.
Thanks for digging that up, J! You are a panoply of infotude.
Since restaurants are still collecting 1/2% for the stadiums the effective restaurant tax is now 10%. It is good to pay for transit but there has to be a better tax system than sales tax.
Another reason to vote in a state income tax
Seriously?? 9.5% sales tax might sound high, but you don’t know how good it is. I moved from NY state where we had 8.75% sales tax AND 10% income tax. I came to WA and got a 10% pay raise!
I’m more than happy to pay a ‘high’ sales tax under 2 conditions. It’s the only major tax I pay (other than property and special conditions) and if it goes directly to projects that I want (light rail/streetcars).