Washington State has two interrelated public policy dilemmas. The first is that our tax system fails to generate the revenues needed to fund public services. This is in large part due to our overdependence on sales taxes and property taxes and the lack of a progressive income tax. The second is that this very regressive tax system encourages the polarization of income to the top group of already privileged employees, while reinforcing wage stagnation for typical workers.
We could consider an excise tax on employers to progressively fund public services and rein in the acceleration of employer‐based compensation to top of employees.