Washington Judge Clears Tax-Repeal Ballot Warning on Top 3 Budget Cuts
Updated
Updated · The Seattle Times · Aug 8
Washington Judge Clears Tax-Repeal Ballot Warning on Top 3 Budget Cuts
3 articles · Updated · The Seattle Times · Aug 8
Summary
Judge Chris Lanese ruled that Washington can keep a fiscal-impact disclosure on November ballots for Initiative 645, rejecting a bid to block language tied to repeal of the state’s tax on high-income earners.
The statement says repeal would reduce funding for K-12 education, higher education and human services — the top three general-fund areas the state says would be hit by lower revenue.
Lanese found no constitutional violation and said the wording was neutral under state law, which requires the attorney general to prepare such disclosures for tax and fee measures affecting revenue.
Arthur West said he will appeal Monday on his broader constitutional claims, though Lanese’s order allowing the statement to appear on the ballot itself cannot be appealed.
A separate challenge from Let’s Go Washington was canceled after the ruling, leaving intact a disclosure that could shape how voters view a tax repeal that would not take effect until 2028.