Washington Votes Forum

 How about modifying the B&O tax by elimonating it so businesses will have a reason to stay in Washington. The only modification I support is lowering or complete elomonation!

From what I understand, it is large to help make up for the fact we have no state income tax. We could reduce it and explore the possibility of a small income tax as a way to get our state economy back up and running. California and about half the other states have both state and sales taxes. Washington is one of the few who does not.

I agree with Twestby. For a self-employed person like myself (no employees), the B&O tax equates to a personal income tax with no exemptions.

And look where that's gotten California. One of the reasons I took my family out of that state was it's burdensome 10% income tax rate, high sales tax, high property tax (they have ways around Prop 13), etc. CA's tax system doesn't keep them financially afloat, it just encourages them to spend more so that even the smallest economic downturn in that state (let alone a major one) sends them into crises mode. They have only one response though: more taxes with threats of cutting police/schools/firefighting. They never threaten to cut other spending because the general public would be glad to see the waste go away rather than assume a tax increase.

 In the absence of cognitive powers to reduce spending in line with reality another new tax is always the solution. Yea lets act like California so we can be the second state to declare bankruptcy. Eliminate the B.O. tax and you would see businesses flocking to this State and Joblessness go away......Too obvious for consideration I suppose......