Scott Edwards and Justin Hobson authored a June 1 article in the Puget Sound Business Journal titled “Seattle’s Proposed Income Tax Is ‘Deep-Pocket Tax Fishing,’ Faces Legal Challenges.” The article discusses the Seattle City Council’s recently passed Resolution 31747, which sets forth the city’s intentions to adopt a progressive income tax targeting “high-income” households in the city. The proposed income tax faces many legal challenges, including constitutional, statutory and city charter limitations.
Proponents seem undeterred by the legal obstacles. Seattle will need to prevail against multiple legal arguments before the trial court and court of appeals just to get a chance to try to convince the current state Supreme Court to overturn its own constitutional precedents. We can also expect that voters may demand a voice via referendum if the courts ultimately support the Council.