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

Washington’s Estate Tax: Revenue for Higher Education and Early Learning

02.24.2010 | Increasing Washington's estate tax could fund universal pre-kindergarten, Washington's early childhood education career and wage ladder, and provide publicly-financed tuition for all Washington public high school graduates -- in addition to lowering class sizes in public schools and improving academic help for struggling students.

Summary »

Exemptions to Ax - Sins to Tax: Revenues to Rebuild Our Economic Future

UPDATED 02.17.2010 | These fact sheets summarize a budget solution that closes Washington's $2.8 billion shortfall this year -- and provides long-term budget stability in future years. By closing tax exemptions that no longer serve a compelling public purpose, we can stabilize funding for things that matter most to Washington families.

Fact Sheet »

Creating jobs and boosting our economy

01.14.2010 | Washington State is losing an estimated 44,000 private and public sector jobs due to billions of dollars in state budget cuts in 2009 – and further cuts could axe another 33,600. By contrast, a combination of new state taxes and federal aid to fill the state’s budget gap could save up to 30,000 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.