Tax Reform

Budget cuts: Costly. Our Quality of life: Priceless.

From roads and utilities to schools and parks, police and firefighters to safety inspectors and environmental scientists, everyone benefits from steady investment in public structures that yield well-educated citizens, profitable businesses, safe communities and a healthy environment.

But our state suffers from a structural deficit, with tax revenues over time growing at a slower pace than the economy and demands for public services. By failing to capture revenue from a changing economy, we are starving our economy of the very resources we need for long-term growth and broad economic opportunity.

Washington needs new sources of revenue to support investments in early learning, K-12 and higher education. EOI is putting forward concrete proposals for new sources of revenue to bring our education system up to modern standards, support important public investments, while making our tax system more equitable for everyone.

Featured Publications

$2 Billion in Progressive Annual Revenue for Washington

UPDATED 02.14.2012 | This brief lists, in detail, $2 billion in annual state revenue that could be raised by asking the wealthiest corporations and people to pay their fair share, ending tax preferences for big banks and and commercial farms, and updating our tax code to reflect our 21st century economy.

Fact Sheet »

Washington State Budget 101

01.09.2012 | Where does state revenue come from, and how is it spent? Why does Washington face budget deficits - and how big have budget cuts really been? Get answers to these and other important budget and tax policy questions in this convenient sheet.

Fact Sheet »

A Jobs and Recovery Plan for Washington

10.27.2011 | Washington’s economy will produce more jobs and rebound more quickly if policymakers raise taxes rather than cut spending further. Ending corporate tax breaks and maintaining investments of $2 billion in education, health care, and services for struggling state residents would result in 9,000 to 17,000 additional private and public sector jobs.

Full Report »

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Policy Success

EOI’s analysis and public education efforts have helped slow down the proliferation of special interest tax breaks and raised interest in modernizing our tax system and making it fairer.