Members of Washington Retail’s leadership team heard government affairs updates last week at the International Council of Shopping Center’s Pacific Northwest Idea Exchange held in Bellevue, Washington.

CEO Renée Sunde and Mark Johnson, Senior VP of Policy and Government Affairs, heard updates on Washington, California and Alaska issues including a warning about a tax-related proposal that has qualified for the ballot in California.

California’s split-roll property tax system, if approved by voters, would roll back Proposition 13 tax-control measures approved by voters in 1978 and increase taxes on business.

ICSC and WR often work on mutually beneficial legislation and issues such as the successful adoption of internet sales taxation.  We look forward to our continued close working relationship with the International Council of Shopping Centers.

About 250 attendees also heard presentations by retailers including

Mud Bay Pet Foods and Dancing Goats Coffee, both of Olympia, Bi-Mart Corporation, and Great Clips.  Developers outlined details of real estate growth throughout the state, in Portland and Vancouver, B.C.