Bellevue eyeing bills in Legislature for budget impact

The Bellevue City Council on Jan. 23 considered potential impacts on Bellevue’s budget of several bills now being considered by the state Legislature, which is in session until March 8.

 

The Bellevue City Council on Jan. 23 considered potential impacts on Bellevue’s budget of several bills now being considered by the state Legislature, which is in session until March 8.

The combined effect of the six bills could reduce city revenue from $2.2 to $15.7 million, though it’s unlikely that votes on all six pieces of legislation would negatively impact the city. Councilmembers each year weigh in on state legislation to promote positions that are in the best interest of Bellevue.

The legislation (and the amount of revenue the city could lose) includes: a cell phone tax exemption (up to $6.9 million); changes to the way the Business and Occupation tax is collected ($1.6 to $6 million); annexation sales tax credit (up to $1.2 million); distribution of liquor profits (up to $920,000); liquor excise tax sharing ($655,000); and streamlined sales tax mitigation (up to $100,000).