Washington state moved one step closer Feb. 16 to creating a personal income tax two years after the Legislature said it wouldn’t.

Democrats advanced controversial income tax legislation out of a key Washington state Senate committee on Feb. 9 after pledging more proceeds to local public defender costs and increasing a tax break for small businesses.

Most elected officials have no idea what it’s like to risk everything you have or to struggle to meet payroll for your employees and their families as waves of new taxes, fees and regulations threaten to drown you and your business.  

Washington has long been a high-cost state for employers, but new data show the state is increasingly losing its competitive edge in key areas.

Homeowners may grumble about their property tax bills, but the biggest share of the burden falls on large agricultural and industrial companies across Benton and Franklin counties. 

Do Washington state taxes get you thinking of moving away?

Even before state lawmakers passed a large package of new taxes last year, the state already had a reputation for putting a significant tax burden on businesses, according to a recent report. 

All levy renewals proposed by Tri-City school districts except for one were passing Tuesday night in the February special election. Pasco residents were also passing a measure to have the city formally join Mid-Columbia Libraries’ taxing district, which will levy a new property tax. 

About 19,000 fewer Washingtonians enrolled in health insurance through the state’s online marketplace amid the loss of federal subsidies. 

A recent survey of business owners living in Washington state indicates many are looking to move their personal residence out of the state, though many of them would continue to operate their business in the state.