Seattle’s payroll tax was created nearly six years ago with a promise to tax the city’s highest-paid workers at its largest companies and use the money to help ... (opens in new tab)

Seattle’s payroll tax was created nearly six years ago with a promise to tax the city’s highest-paid workers at its largest companies and use the money to help fund COVID relief, affordable housing, and long-term economic recovery. But a new report from the Downtown Seattle Association argues the tax, known as JumpStart, has instead become part of a wider cost problem that is making Seattle less competitive with Bellevue. The report compares the two cities’ business tax structures and downtow...