In a new policy brief, we write about the income tax the Seattle City Council passed in July. It is being challenged in court. Briefly:

On November 22, 2017, Superior Court Judge John Ruhl declared the City of Seattle’s income tax void. The city has appealed the decision. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has called the appeal a “longshot.” The prolonged litigation represents a considerable and unnecessary expense for the city. There’s a well-established and more appropriate avenue for changing the state constitution and state statute: legislative action and voter approval. The city should abandon its appeal.