WPC: I-1634 Could Have Drastic Consequences On Ag Community

This fall, voters across Washington will be asked if they want to ban local governments from implementing privilege taxes.

This effort is in response to Seattle’s soda tax.

While many associate it with sin taxes, Jason Mercier said privilege taxes could go after anything a local municipality finds questionable.  That could include taxing GMO meat, or produce or, “say that somebody things that a certain type of production is high in carbon and bad for the environment, milk, dairy, or whatever it might be, maybe we’re going to do a privilege tax on that, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that somebody might do this, usually, when you’re talking about these taxes, you’re talking about the sin taxes, the soda and candy taxes, but a privilege tax is very vast in its potential application by local government.”

Mercier pointed out this is not the first time that Washington voters have weighed in on this topic.

“Twice before we have passed initiatives to stop these types of taxes, and unfortunately sometimes they come back.  I think that’s why you’re seeing this new initiative effort with 1634 to say for a 3^rd time we really mean it.”

Mercier added 1634 would only ban privilege taxes at the local level.

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