Three Bills that Help King County: SB 6051, HB 3027, SB 6424

Monday, 3/1/2010, in the House Finance Committee will vote in Executive Session SB 6051 (King County Hotel Taxes), HB 3027 (Seattle Hotel Taxes), and SB 6424 (County/City Excise Taxes).



HB 3027 - Regarding the governance and financing of the Washington state convention and trade center.
ESSB 6051 - Concerning lodging taxes.
ESSB 6424 - Concerning local excise tax authorities for counties and cities.

All three of these bills could really help King County, and Seattle.

Washington State Legislature Under Reported Story HB 3027, Washington State Convention Center

Friday morning the Washington State House Finance Committed will vote to pass HB 3027 in executive session, it will pass, it is unlikely to be amended at this point. It will likely get to the House Floor and passed with little or no debate.

Why?
Because the state needs to take back its 2% tax credit, and wants to again take money from the Tax collected on hotels in Seattle to help balance the state budget. At issue here is the structure of the current law; Seattle hotels with more than 60 rooms charge 5% tax on top of the near 10% sales tax (yes, that is 10 AND 5% sales tax). The state credits the fund this tax goes into with a 2% tax credit, so, 7% feeds the fund.

HB 2912, Refered to Senate Ways and Means Committee

HB 2912 a bill for "Modifying local excise taxes in counties that have pledged lodging tax revenues for the payment of bonds prior to June 26, 1975." passed the House side of the Washington State Legislature on February 16, 2010.
On February 18, 2010, the bill was referred in the Senate to the Way and Means Committee.

Here is the message I sent yesterday to Washington State Senator Ed Murray: