From: Lemke, Will [mailto:Will.Lemke@SEATTLE.GOV]
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 2:31 PM
To: MOPRESS@TALK2.SEATTLE.GOV
Subject: Mayor Burgess’ and City Attorney Holmes’ statement on income tax ruling

NEWS RELEASE
FROM THE OFFICES OF THE MAYOR & CITY ATTORNEY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Katherine Bush, Mayor’s Office, Communications Director,
206.684.8180, Katherine.Bush@seattle.gov
Kimberly Mills, City Attorney’s Office, Communications Director,
206.684.8602, Kimberly.Mills@seattle.gov

Mayor Burgess’ and City Attorney Holmes’
statement on income tax ruling
SEATTLE (November 22, 2017) – Mayor Tim Burgess and City Attorney Pete
Holmes issued the following statement after King County Superior Court
Judge John Ruhl ruled on the City’s proposed income tax on high-income
residents:
“Our state continues to be one of the worst in the nation when it comes to
tax fairness, a result of our misguided over-reliance on regressive sales
taxes. We are also living in a time of extreme income inequality that corrodes
our social compact and causes many to wonder whether wealthy individuals
are paying their fair share. When it comes to Washington state, the studies
are clear: the wealthiest among us are not paying their fair share. As it
happens, many of them agree. In order to build a more just and equitable
society for all, we need a serious overhaul of our state’s tax structure. We
know some argue against any income taxes at all, but we would point out
that we already have a corporate income tax in this state—through the
business and occupation tax. But we need more progressive tax sources, not
fewer. The Seattle income tax was an attempt to move toward this goal, and
we are hopeful that it will be upheld on appeal.”