Kent officials testified in Olympia on bill to replace streamlined sales‑tax losses
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
City officials, along with Port of Seattle and Fred Meyer, testified in Olympia in support of a bill sponsored by Representative Stearns to replace revenue Kent lost after changes to streamlined‑sales‑tax rules; the city estimated losses of $18–$20 million.
City of Kent weekly update host Kent Mayer said he, Council President Korr, Council Member Boyce, the Port of Seattle and Fred Meyer testified in Olympia last week on a bill sponsored by Representative Stearns to replace money the city lost after changes related to the streamlined sales tax.
Mayer said the city’s loss is “upwards of 18 to $20,000,000” and that officials are working with the state to find a replacement so the city can continue to provide services. “We, really are trying to work with the state on a replacement for that so that we can continue to offer the services to our residents that quite honestly you all deserve,” Mayer said.
Mayer thanked those who testified on Kent’s behalf but did not provide a bill number or legislative text in the update. The city did not describe a vote by the City Council to take a formal position; Mayer described the testimony and thanked Representative Stearns for sponsoring the bill.
The update did not specify a schedule for the bill, the precise mechanism of replacement, or whether the replacement would be ongoing or a one‑time appropriation. Mayer said the testimony was part of the city’s effort to restore lost revenue but did not provide further fiscal detail in the weekly remarks.