Seattle's controversial payroll tax has failed to meet revenue expectations as major businesses continue to leave the city. Last week, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that Seattle collected $47 million less in payroll taxes than projected in 2024. The city had anticipated over $400 million in revenue but brought in only $360 million, compounding an already staggering $260 million budget deficit.
Seattle’s payroll expense tax on large businesses generated $47 million less than projected last year, with Mayor Bruce Harrell suggesting major corporations are not contributing their fair share. The Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts released its year-end revenue report on Tuesday, showing actual revenues of $360 million, falling short of the October projection of $406.8 million.
The Washington Parents Network (WPN) called for a national investigation on Friday into the Seattle Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of Education. WPN alleges that the Seattle OCR is failing to respond appropriately to a Title IX complaint filed on Feb. 28 regarding violations of girls' rights in athletics.
A bill moving through the Washington State Legislature would allow lawful permanent residents and foreign nationals who are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to serve as police officers and deputy prosecutors. Critics argue that this move would enable noncitizens to “take away the rights of U.S. citizens.”
Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer told radio host Jason Rantz that he is willing to violate Washington State's sanctuary policies in order to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in removing dangerous illegal immigrants.
Washington State has filed a lawsuit against Adams County, arguing that the county's sheriff's office is "illegally collaborating with federal immigration officials and aiding the Trump administration’s efforts to enlist local officials for federal civil immigration work."
Washington State’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal claimed last week that it was "inaccurate" to say that there are only two genders.
A Washington state school district is standing by its race-based hiring and staffing policies despite the Trump administration’s warning that such practices could lead to a loss of federal funding. The district's affirmative action plan prioritizes the retention of "staff of color" in cases of staff reductions and incorporates diversity-based hiring goals, raising concerns about potential violations of federal anti-discrimination laws.
