Vancouver — Doing away with sales-tax exemption for Oregon shoppers would harm business in every Washington border community, Clark County’s largest business group told state legislators Friday, asking lawmakers to vote against a bill to repeal tax-exempt status.
Washington businesses in the Portland-Vancouver metro area “receive out-of-state business from our neighbors in Oregon,” according to a letter signed by Kelly Parker, chief executive officer and president of the 1,100-member Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.
The bill’s sponsors say repealing the sales tax exemption and eliminating a business tax for corporate banks would raise $170 million.
The bill would require a two-thirds vote to pass. Lawmakers, who will be called into a special session Tuesday, will have up to 30 days to balance Washington’s budget, which currently has a $5 billion deficit.