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Regional mayors urge state lawmakers to reject proposed payroll excise and higher B&O tax
Summary
Mayors from Auburn, Bellevue, Redmond and Renton held a press conference in Auburn urging Washington state legislators to drop a proposed payroll excise tax and a targeted increase in the business & occupation (B&O) tax for large employers, warning the measures would harm jobs, small businesses and city revenues.
Mayor Nancy Backus of Auburn and a group of Eastside and South King County mayors on Friday urged Washington state legislators to reject two revenue items in the 2025–27 operating budget proposals: a payroll excise tax and an increased business & occupation (B&O) tax targeted at businesses with large payrolls.
"I am not a fan of leading by press conference. So the fact that we are here today with a press conference means that it’s a pretty significant issue," said Mayor Nancy Backus, opening the event at Auburn’s council chambers. "These taxes will make attracting jobs — great jobs — much harder, not only in Auburn, but in other cities across the state."
The mayors said the state proposal would apply an employer-level payroll excise and a higher B&O rate for businesses the state classifies as having…
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