Washington State’s lawmakers have been busy inventing new ways to take more of your money, like they ran out of ideas and thought, “What if we raise every tax everywhere?” A recent poll shows people are not thrilled. Imagine a bunch of voters clutching their wallets and screaming inside. Let's see what's happening.
Here are Five Fast Facts on Washington State's (many) new taxes:
- 💥 Tax Explosion - Between 2014-2024, about 50 taxes were either raised or newly created. That’s a 103% increase in sparkly new or buffed fees...like taxes got a power up!
- 📈 Record Tax Increase - This year, the state passed a $9 billion tax hike, which will gradually hit wallets through 2026. Think of it like your bill at the restaurant growing even after you leave.
- 😠 People Are Fed Up - Poll numbers say 42% of voters think taxes are much too high, and 35% think they’re somewhat too high, so a total of 77% are feeling the burn. With the latest tax hike counted, that jumps up to a whopping 82%. Just think what would happen if they all decided to vote based on that burn...
- 🤏 Does It Matter? - Uh, yeah, just a bit. Because 98% of poll respondents say the economy is either very or somewhat important to them. Taxes obviously make everything more expensive, and that puts the squeeze on everyday folks' wallets, thus the economy feels worse.
- 😡 Outrage Triggers - Some specific tax increases got particular hate, including the estate tax (83% against) and the grocery store tax (80% against). Is anyone surprised?
🔥Bottom line: Washington State’s tax scoreboard is going up like Taylor Swift ticket prices. Most folks feel squeezed - gas prices, grocery bills, and numerous other fees keep piling up. If you’re a resident, your wallet is probably giving you the stink-eye. Will voters start bringing pitchforks (figuratively, of course) to the ballot box? Time will tell.
What do you think about all these tax hikes?
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