CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to taxation; imposing a payroll expense tax on persons engaging in business in Seattle; adding a new Chapter 5.38 to the Seattle Municipal Code; 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, 5.55.230, and 6.208.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code; declaring an emergency; and establishing an immediate effective date; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.
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WHEREAS, the Mayor declared a civil emergency on March 3, 2020, and the City Council modified the civil emergency proclamation by adopting Resolution 31937 on March 5, 2020; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle's 2020 Budget fully appropriates all available municipal revenues to address the many and varied needs of the community; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that there is no viable alternative available for advancing a core City objective during a time of civil emergency; 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; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council finds and declares that:
A. There is no viable alternative to meet a core City objective.
B. On March 3, 2020, the Mayor proclaimed that a civil emergency exists in Seattle related to the COVID-19 virus.
C. On March 11, 2020, the Governor of Washington State and the Local Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County issued parallel orders prohibiting gatherings of 250 people or more for social, spiritual, and recreational activities in King County.
D. On March 13, 2020, the Governor of Washington State issued an emergency order announcing all K-12 schools in Washington to be closed from March 17, 2020, through April 24, 2020, to combat the spread of the disease.
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