CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to taxation; imposing a tax on transportation network companies; adding a new Chapter 5.39 to the Seattle Municipal Code; and amending Sections 5.30.010, 5.30.060, 5.55.010, 5.55.040, 5.55.060, 5.55.150, 5.55.165, 5.55.220, and 5.55.230 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, transportation network companies (TNCs) provide application dispatch services that allow passengers to directly request the dispatch of drivers via the internet using mobile interfaces such as smartphone applications; and
WHEREAS, over 24 million TNC trips were taken in Seattle in 2018; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council seek to invest in affordable housing near transit, transportation and transit investments including the Center City Streetcar Connector, and a driver conflict resolution center using proceeds from a tax on TNC companies providing 1,000,000 rides per quarter or more on a per-ride basis; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) assesses a per-ride regulatory fee for the costs to FAS of operating and enforcing the TNC regulatory scheme; and
WHEREAS, as of the date of submitting this ordinance to establish a tax on TNC rides, the fee to regulate TNCs was $0.14; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seattle intends to exercise its taxing authority, as granted by the Washington State Constitution and as authorized by the Washington State Legislature, and impose a tax on TNCs operating in Seattle; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Chapter 5.39 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:
Chapter 5.39 TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY TAX
5.39.010 Administrative provisions
All provisions contained in Chapter 5.55 shall have full force and application with respect to taxes imposed under this Chapter 5.39 except as may be expressly stated to the contrary herein.
5.39.020 Definitions
The defini...
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