HomeHeadlinesSeattle’s leaders approve a tax on big companies to help the city’s homeless
Seattle’s leaders approve a tax on big companies to help the city’s homeless
Big businesses in Seattle like Amazon and Starbucks will now be required to pay ‘head tax’ to raise funds for affordable housing to help the city’s homeless. The new measure was approved by the City Council on Monday under which businesses making at least $20 million in gross revenues will be taxed about $275 per full-time worker annually.
The debate over who should pay to solve a housing crisis exacerbated by Seattle’s rapid economic growth comes after weeks of tense exchanges, raucous meetings and a threat by Amazon, the city’s largest employer, to stop construction planning on a 17-story building near its hometown headquarters.
Amazon, Starbucks and business groups sharply criticized the council’s decision, called it a tax on jobs and questioned whether city officials were spending current resources effectively. However, worker and church groups and others cheered the tax as a step toward building badly needed affordable housing in an affluent city where the income gap continues to widen and lower-income workers are being priced out.
Seattle’s leaders approve a tax on big companies to help the city’s homeless
Big businesses in Seattle like Amazon and Starbucks will now be required to pay ‘head tax’ to raise funds for affordable housing to help the city’s homeless. The new measure was approved by the City Council on Monday under which businesses making at least $20 million in gross revenues will be taxed about $275 per full-time worker annually.
The debate over who should pay to solve a housing crisis exacerbated by Seattle’s rapid economic growth comes after weeks of tense exchanges, raucous meetings and a threat by Amazon, the city’s largest employer, to stop construction planning on a 17-story building near its hometown headquarters.
Amazon, Starbucks and business groups sharply criticized the council’s decision, called it a tax on jobs and questioned whether city officials were spending current resources effectively. However, worker and church groups and others cheered the tax as a step toward building badly needed affordable housing in an affluent city where the income gap continues to widen and lower-income workers are being priced out.
Read full news here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-seattle-homeless-tax-20180515-story.html
Recent Posts
Willie Nelson rescued 70 horses from the slaughterhouse, now looks after them at his Texas farm
86-year-old American musician Wille Nelson has an impressive herd of 70 horses...
Wyoming church pays off medical debt of 1,899 families
A church in Wyoming, Michigan, recently partnered with RIP Medical Debt to pay...
Former child laborer now feeds 2,000 hungry people daily for free
This is yet another example of how some people who were underprivileged before...
Indian engineer leaves cushy US job to build eco-friendly houses in villages
There aren't many people who would be willing to give up cushy, high-paying jobs...