Retail Sales and Use Tax.
Retail sales taxes are imposed on retail sales of most articles of tangible personal property, digital products, and some services. A retail sale is a sale to the final consumer or end user of the property, digital product, or service. If retail sales taxes were not collected when the user acquired the property, digital products, or services, then use tax applies to the value of property, digital product, or service when used in this state. The state, all counties, and all cities levy retail sales and use taxes. The state sales and use tax rate is 6.5 percent; local sales and use tax rates vary from 0.5 percent to 4.0 percent, depending on the location.
Community Preservation and Development Authorities.
A Community Preservation and Development Authority (CPDA) allows for the creation of authorities dedicated to preserving or enhancing the unique historical or cultural character of communities adversely impacted by publicly funded facilities, public works, capital projects, or other land use decisions.
A CPDA is formed by residents, property owners, employees, or business owners of an impacted community by presenting a proposal in writing to the appropriate legislative committees in the state House of Representatives and Senate. The proposal must include proposed boundaries and provisions. Formation of the CPDA is subject to legislative authorization by statute.
The CPDA account exists in the State Treasury and is composed of two subaccounts, one for operating purposes and one for capital purposes.
A CPDA must have at least one of the following purposes:
There are currently two approved CPDAs, both in Seattle: the Pioneer Square-International District Community Preservation and Development Authority, and the Central District CPDA.
Lumen Field.
The 325,000 square-foot Seahawks Stadium was established in 2002 with a seating capacity of 68,740, with 5,000 additional seats available for special events. Lumen Field has a roof covering 70 percent of the seating area. In 2004 Seahawks Stadium was renamed Qwest Field; in 2011 Qwest Field was renamed to CenturyLink Field; and in 2020 CenturyLink Field was given its current name, Lumen Field.
T-Mobile Park.
In 1999 the 88,000 square-foot Safeco Field was established with a seating capacity of 47,000 and a retractable roof. In 2018 Safeco Field was renamed T-Mobile Park.
A county with a population over 1 million may impose a 2 percent sales and use tax on taxable events occurring within a qualified facility. The rate of the tax is credited against the state portion of the sales and use tax and as a result, the consumer does not pay any additional tax. The proceeds of the tax must go to any CPDA located within the county. A qualified facility is a facility located in a county in which a CPDA is established that:
(In support) This bill is about forging a community and preserving a place culturally called "home" despite displacement. The mechanism to provide revenues from the sales and use tax imposed in the stadiums is negotiated and provides a nexus between the events impacting the neighborhood and the funding source. By providing funding to the CPDA established in 2008, it will allow prioritization of the goals and opportunities as set by the community. In addition, stable funding will be able to address more intractable problems like homelessness and behavioral health. Cultural preservation work being done includes providing a community gathering place that was lost due to business closing. The CPDAs carry out their mission and improve the quality of life of the community by investing in infrastructure, small business and nonprofits.
(Opposed) This bill should include revenues from private events at universities like collegiate sporting events. These institutions take advantage of their nonprofit status and take the revenues and put them in their large endowments.