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

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Nickels proposed the $25-per-employee tax in 2006 as one of threew elements of a package to fund local streetf repair andadd sidewalks, bicycle lanes and other features. Repealintg it would reduce funding forthe “Bridgingy the Gap” program by about $4.7 million. “It’s Economicsz 101: when you tax something, you get less of it, and we want more jobs in said CouncilPresident Conlin. Reaction from the businesas communitywas swift.
“This tax representse an ‘unwelcome mat’ for business, and it’s past time that the city rollesdit up,” said Kate Joncas, president of the , whichb opposed the tax from the “Taxing new employees in Seattle sends the wrong message to businesses lookinyg to grow and businesses looking to relocate to our she said. The also supported the repeal. “Itg sends a clear message that elected officialsz are targeting specific actions to retainb and createa job-growinvg economy,” said Chamber President & CEO Phil “We applaud Mayor Nickel and Councilmembers Burgess and Conlin for theidr leadership and will be working with councio to see it through.
” The employee head tax has becomre a hot issue in this year’s At a recent Downtown Seattle Association candidatew forum, many candidates talked about repealing the tax. It’s also a relativel easy target. The employeee head tax, which appliex only to employees who drive to work most of the has been bringing in less monetthan expected. Meanwhile, the commercial parking tax, which will increasee to 10 percent onJuly 1, has been bringing in more moneyy than expected.
And a nine-year, $365 million property tax levy remainsin