Transforming Washington's Budget

Browse Ideas with tag 'tax':

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• I agree

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  313 votes

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  Economic Development »

  More communtiy service/less jail time for nonviolent offenders.

  I suggest offenders of nonviolent and less serious crimes are given a choice of massive amounts of community service or a larger sentence/fines. The less people we have in jail means less tax money. The more people we have working on community projects means a healthier community. Basically it’s counterproductive to have someone just sit in a jail cell for selling pot, while they could be heavily engaged in helping ...more »

  I suggest offenders of nonviolent and less serious crimes are given a choice of massive amounts of community service or a larger sentence/fines. The less people we have in jail means less tax money. The more people we have working on community projects means a healthier community. Basically it’s counterproductive to have someone just sit in a jail cell for selling pot, while they could be heavily engaged in helping the community..

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  22 comments for Idea: More communtiy service/less jail time for nonviolent offenders.

  Submitted by steve 2 years ago

• I agree

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  59 votes

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  Effective Government »

  Enforce laws/taxes already on the books

  I own a store in the Tri-Cities area and I know for a fact that I'm one of the only ones in this whole part of the state that charges tax on phone cards as we're supposed to (my customers complain that I'm the only one that charges, plus I've inquired w/ other owners). Part of the problem is I think that their are some that really don't even know (education), but many others use it as a marketing advantage as it makes ...more »

  I own a store in the Tri-Cities area and I know for a fact that I'm one of the only ones in this whole part of the state that charges tax on phone cards as we're supposed to (my customers complain that I'm the only one that charges, plus I've inquired w/ other owners). Part of the problem is I think that their are some that really don't even know (education), but many others use it as a marketing advantage as it makes the cost to customers cheaper.

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  Submitted by Charles Grimm 2 years ago

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  44 votes

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  Effective Government »

  Eliminate special hand-out deduction to banks

  Eliminate the so-called first mortgage B&O deduction for banks under RCW 82.04.4292 unless they can prove that they are passing the savings on to consumers and that mortgages are cheaper from the consumer's standpoint in WA as a result of the deduction. If no savings are realized by the consumer, then banks ought to pay tax on their revenue in this state like most other businesses.

  2 comments for Idea: Eliminate special hand-out deduction to banks

  Submitted by Matthew Bryan 2 years ago

• I agree

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  32 votes

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  Natural Resources »

  Tax Mooring Buoys

  Tax private Mooring Buoys that are on public waterways

  2 comments for Idea: Tax Mooring Buoys

  Submitted by Clint Chapin 2 years ago

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  29 votes

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  Economic Development »

  Publish corporate tax incentives currently in place

  The state needs to publish a list of the tax incentives currently in place for corporations, complete with the amount of lost tax revenue alongside the expected return. I think once voters see what they are/aren't getting from these incentives, there will be far fewer of these incentives handed out.

  3 comments for Idea: Publish corporate tax incentives currently in place

  Submitted by Phil Hutchinson 2 years ago

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  20 votes

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  Effective Government »

  Public School Funding Responsibility

  We need to make sure in some way, that our public schools spend their money wisely, and effectively. For Example, If there is a school that plans on building a "Retainment Pond" (a simple 16 foot pond) ends up paying $400,000 for said pond, when it could have cost $80,000. The School should be fined.

  So, Ultimately, more responsibility of schools with their government funding.

  Add your comment for Idea: Public School Funding Responsibility

  Submitted by Teddy McCullough 2 years ago

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  15 votes

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  Economic Development »

  Amazon avoids paying sales tax on books in WA

  Please look into how Amazon avoids sales tax on used books they sell in WA state. Used book stores in Washington have to collect and pay tax in Washington...even WA book sellers on eBay collect sales tax - so why doesn't Amazon? They are selling millions of used books every year...and our state is missing out on a pretty hefty chunk of change. FYI, several other states - including NY, NC and Texas have discovered ...more »

  Please look into how Amazon avoids sales tax on used books they sell in WA state. Used book stores in Washington have to collect and pay tax in Washington...even WA book sellers on eBay collect sales tax - so why doesn't Amazon?

  They are selling millions of used books every year...and our state is missing out on a pretty hefty chunk of change.

  FYI, several other states - including NY, NC and Texas have discovered that Amazon isn't collecting tax in their states either, and are taking on Amazon directly with lawsuits.

  ...it's a shame to think that perhaps WA legislators are too heavily in Amazon's pocket?

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  3 comments for Idea: Amazon avoids paying sales tax on books in WA

  Submitted by Bill K 2 years ago

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  10 votes

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  Economic Development »

  Excise Tax on all Advertising and Marketing in Washington

  Implement a 1% excise tax on all advertising or marketing in the State of Washington. This should specifically include political advertisements in print and broadcast.

  The potential Washington State Revenue from taxing advertising would easily exceed $2 million per percent of excise tax.

  1 comment for Idea: Excise Tax on all Advertising and Marketing in Washington

  Submitted by Ted Ruth 2 years ago

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  9 votes

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  Natural Resources »

  Use of Tax/Fee Funds for Purposes Unrelated to the Tax/Fee

  There is often a discontinuity between the stated reason for a tax or fee and the use of the revenue that tax or fee generates. Take for example a topic near and dear to my heart, the ORV tag, where I pay a fee annually but reap only minimal value for that money. While I understand and appreciate that not every worthwhile program has a dedicated tax or fee funding it, and, hence, the need for a general fund, it seems ...more »

  There is often a discontinuity between the stated reason for a tax or fee and the use of the revenue that tax or fee generates. Take for example a topic near and dear to my heart, the ORV tag, where I pay a fee annually but reap only minimal value for that money. While I understand and appreciate that not every worthwhile program has a dedicated tax or fee funding it, and, hence, the need for a general fund, it seems to me a dishonest practice to take money for a seemingly specific purpose only to use that money in other ways.

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  Submitted by Greg Sharp 2 years ago

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  3 votes

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  Economic Development »

  Collect Tax on Gambling in a New Way

  If tribes want to be independent from the United States and not pay taxes or be under our laws then make a federal law that going there means you have to have a passport, like Canada. To visit these Indian Nations will mean going through border crossings, and U.S. Customs & Indian Customs. And those who live there will also be required to carry their own form of passport from their Indian Nation. Then our taxpayers ...more »

  If tribes want to be independent from the United States and not pay taxes or be under our laws then make a federal law that going there means you have to have a passport, like Canada.

  To visit these Indian Nations will mean going through border crossings, and U.S. Customs & Indian Customs.

  And those who live there will also be required to carry their own form of passport from their Indian Nation.

  Then our taxpayers who visit will have to pass through border crossings, and make items bought there taxable by U.S. Customs, and same for the residents returning to their nation.

  Then less U.S. citizens will go and spend money at Indian Nations, and then make casinos legal everywhere.

  Then tax can be collected from WA residents because it is no longer on Indian Nations, and people will decide to use WA state casinos.

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  Submitted by Leika Anderson 2 years ago

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  -7 votes

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  Effective Government »

  Sell insurance by the gallon instead of by the year

  Add an insurance tax to the price of gasoline and drivers will never have to deal with the DMV or car insurance companies again. Split the cost of the tax between the consumers and the providers. Everybody who drives will be automatically insured and registered. Those who drive the most will pay the most, and if you want to save money on your insurance, all you have to do is drive less. There would be NO MORE uninsured ...more »

  Add an insurance tax to the price of gasoline and drivers will never have to deal with the DMV or car insurance companies again. Split the cost of the tax between the consumers and the providers. Everybody who drives will be automatically insured and registered. Those who drive the most will pay the most, and if you want to save money on your insurance, all you have to do is drive less. There would be NO MORE uninsured drivers. Period. Everyone who buys gas is automatically insured. No more monthly payments of hundreds of dollars. All it takes to be completely insured for the road is the price of a gallon of gas. No more arresting people for driving without insurance. The very fact you're driving means you bought gas which means you're insured. Police can focus on other things. Create a single monopoly out of the DMV and all the major insurance companies in which every single transaction is taken care of at the pump. Make the tax 100% earmarked to the bureaucracy that deals with payment of claims, which are all no-fault.

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  2 comments for Idea: Sell insurance by the gallon instead of by the year

  Submitted by Michael Dare 2 years ago

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  -8 votes

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  Effective Government »

  How to generate income and use money wisely

  (Income tax), (Invest state owned/managed pensions, fund, and idle budget money, in state bonds to lower the interest), (State bank).

  Add your comment for Idea: How to generate income and use money wisely

  Submitted by James Wilson 2 years ago

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  -11 votes

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  Economic Development »

  Increase the Tax on Toilet Paper and Get Rid of Ohers

  Instead of discriminating against certain groups with increased taxes like candy, cigarrettes, and water, why not increase tax on something everyone uses -- toilet paper.

  1 comment for Idea: Increase the Tax on Toilet Paper and Get Rid of Ohers

  Submitted by Bobbie Home 2 years ago

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  -16 votes

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  Economic Development »

  Allow fuel tax to be raided in emergency.

  New roads are nice, but they're a luxury. Remove our constitutional requirement that fuel taxes must be spent on roads, and allow the state to dip into this tax stream during extreme hardship.

  1 comment for Idea: Allow fuel tax to be raided in emergency.

  Submitted by Matt the Engineer 2 years ago

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