Last year, even with a budget surplus, public outrage nixed a tax break sought by Microsoft and Yahoo for server farms in Eastern Washington. (The WaPoWa post – and P-I column – on it is still current reading.)
This year we’ve got a hole in the state budget big enough to swallow 25% of the money needed just to maintain services like K-12 education, higher ed, prisons, child protective services, and health care for low income kids. And these technology giants have the nerve to come back and ask again – for even more money?
Last year’s request for a public handout was for half of their state sales tax Microsoft and Yahoo would otherwise owe. This year they want an exemption from all sales tax – city, county, and state – and to include more stuff under the exemption.
The cost estimate for last year’s request was $43 million per biennium. We don’t have the estimate for this year’s bigger ask yet.
When Microsoft won a big tax break in 2004, the next week Steve Ballmer was in the news criticizing the state for not investing enough in education. Is the equation taxes=public services too complicated for him to understand?
A hearing on House Bill 2283 is scheduled for Friday in the House Finance Committee.
More To Read
February 11, 2025
The rising cost of health care is unsustainable and out of control
We have solutions that put people over profits
January 29, 2025
Who is left out of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act?
Strengthening job protections gives all workers time they need to care for themselves and their families
January 17, 2025
A look into the Department of Revenue’s Wealth Tax Study
A wealth tax can be reasonably and effectively implemented in Washington state