(The Center Square) – Gov. Bob Ferguson repeatedly said he would look for budget savings and efficiencies before agreeing to raise taxes on Washingtonians, but on Tuesday – the deadline for doing so – he signed Washington state’s nearly $78 billion, two-year operating budget into law that raises taxes by more than $9 billion over the next four years. The operating budget includes several tax increases, including a new business and occupation gross tax on storage units. The budget also includes increases to the state's two primary business and occupation tax rates on gross proceeds, an increase in the tax rate for service businesses with annual taxable revenue exceeding $5 million, and a broadened capital gains tax. There’s also a tax on the sale of electric vehicle credits, dubbed the “Tesla tax.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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