At its latest meeting, the Bellevue City Council strongly opposed proposed tax increases under consideration by state lawmakers in Olympia, according to a Bellevue Chamber press release. Councilmembers unanimously approved a letter to state legislators, objecting to raising the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and implementing a statewide payroll excise tax modeled after Seattle’s “Jump Start” tax.
Bellevue Chamber President and CEO Joe Fain, a former state budget writer, praised the council’s decisive response. “These taxes will push jobs out of state,” Fain said. “We commend the Bellevue City Council for taking a firm and united stand.”
Councilmember Dave Hamilton, a leading voice in the discussion, cautioned that such taxes could drive businesses elsewhere. “Just as Bellevue has benefited from tax policies that drove companies out of other cities, other regions will gain if Washington implements a statewide head tax,” he said.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell recently highlighted a significant decline in Seattle’s “Jump Start” tax revenue, aligning with reports of major employers relocating high-paying jobs to other areas. For instance, Amazon moved over 20% of its Seattle-based workforce to Bellevue after the city enacted its local payroll tax.
Bellevue councilmembers emphasized that a statewide payroll tax could lead to similar job shifts. The council directed staff to send their opposition letter to Bellevue-area legislators and collaborate with neighboring cities to build broader support against the proposed tax measures.
