Whether a proposed Seattle income tax is constitutional heads to the state Supreme Court for a decision. It follows an appeals court decision late last month against reconsidering that a uniform tax across all earners was constitutional.
The Seattle City Council approved an income tax on high earners in 2018, a decision that was met with a legal challenge.
Opponents of the tax maintain it is prohibited by the state constitution. They also note that voters have rejected earlier proposals several times. City council members already are anticipating uses for the income should the Supreme Court uphold the appeals court’s decision. The council’s plans include back-up ideas such as taxing stock dividends, interest and capital gains.
