A proposal to make Oregonians pay retail sales tax in Washington, as part of a plan to help pay for all-day kindergarten, passed out of the state’s House Ways and Means Committee on Saturday.
Repealing the tax exemption would raise an estimated $26 million each year and would help Washington meet its goal of raising the $176 million it needs to provide all-day schooling to all kindergartners by 2018, education officials said during a public hearing last week. About 17,000 of the state’s 78,000 kindergartners participate in the state-sponsored all-day program, and the state currently lags behind when it comes to meeting its 2018 goal.
The House Ways and Means Committee did not add a referendum clause to House Bill 2791. If lawmakers don’t include a referendum clause allowing Washingtonians to vote on a tax increase, then the bill must win at least two-thirds of the vote in the Legislature rather than a simple majority, according to state law.
Those opposing the bill say they believe it would hurt businesses in border towns, such as Vancouver, that compete with neighboring states for customers. Taxes on vehicle and boat sales are exempt from this bill.
