Business Groups Call On Lawmakers To Lower Taxes During ‘97 Session

Tax cuts are the top issue of Washington businesses this year.

With Republicans in control of both houses, with Initiative 601’s spending limit still intact, and with the state revenue surplus mounting, expectations of rollbacks in taxes are running high.

Association of Washington Business Chairman Ron Rants says tax relief is his No. 1 priority in 1997. Key policy objectives of the state’s largest business lobby include:

Reduce or eliminate the 1993 increase in taxes levied directly on the businesses.

Allow the 1993 payroll tax surcharge to sunset.

Provide relief for property taxpayers in danger of being “taxed out” of their homes.

Make it easier for taxpayers to challenge erroneous property valuations.

Ensure that property taxes are not levied on intangible personal property such as goodwill, trademarks, patient lists, franchise agreements, permits, or trained workers.

“The first task of the new legislature in January should be to complete the repeal of the 1993 Business and Occupation tax increase,” said Carolyn Logue, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business lobby, in a year-end report to members.

“A new governor and new legislature have the opportunity to repeal the last vestige of the 1993 tax increase, which has proven unnecessary and harmful to small business owners. Let’s make that the first order of business in 1997,” Logue said.

But she said the Legislature also needs to “look broadly” at tax relief.

“We strongly favor across-the-board relief that benefits all businesses, especially the smallest ones, not reductions targeted to a specific industry. Targeting specific areas does not provide relief for the entire economy and often misses businesses where the most jobs are being created, and the fastest growth is occurring.”

She called for the Legislature to avoid segmented relief, such as special tax breaks for firms that provide worker training or child care. “This kind of tax relief actually discriminates against firms who have no need for worker training or don’t have workers with children,” said the small business advocate. “You also end up with small and struggling businesses subsidizing larger, more profitable businesses who can afford to spend money on child care and worker training.”

In addition to broad based tax relief, small business priorities for the 1997 session will include regulatory reform and review of existing rules, continued health care reform, restraining government spending, more reforms in employment practices, and expanded options for workers’ compensation rating for small businesses.

NFIB’s 21,000 Washington members employ 230,000 workers.

Agora Award nominations sought

Nominations are open for the Spokane business community’s annual Agora Awards recognizing entrepreneurial excellence.

Now in their 12th year, the awards have been likened to Oscars for businesses. Winners are honored not just for business achievements but their contributions to the economy and the culture of the community.

Nominating forms are available from the sponsoring Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, 1020 W. Riverside. Deadline for entries is Feb. 14.

Seattle lawyers shortchanged?

Corporation attorneys receive average cash compensation of $118,471 a year, reports the management consulting and compensation firm of Abbott, Langer & Associates.

However, the top 10 percent of corporate lawyers haul down $188,000-plus, while the bottom 10 percent get by on $62,000 or less.

And Seattle may have some of the planet’s highest-paid factory workers, but not attorneys. A national survey found that among Seattle’s corporate counsels, median pay (that point where half are above, half below) is the third-lowest in America, at $78,292.

Rosauers adding second Huckleberry’s

Rosauers Supermarkets announced plans to open a second Huckleberry’s Fresh Market featuring natural and organic foods, this one in a converted Rosauers store at 15510 E. Sprague.

Redevelopment of the 35,000-square-foot store already has begun.

The employee-owned chain’s first Huckleberry’s opened earlier in December on Spokane’s South Hill.

In the East Sprague conversion, the pharmacy of the original Rosauers store will be incorporated into the new format.

, DataTimes MEMO: Associate Editor Frank Bartel writes a notes column each Wednesday. If you have business items of regional interest for future columns, call 459-5467 or fax 459-5482.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Frank Bartel The Spokesman-Review