City Of Seattle, Appellant/cr-respondent v. S. Michael Kunath, Respondent/cr-appellant

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION ONE
S. MICHAEL KUNATH, ) No. 79447-4-I
Respondent/Cross Appellant, )
v.
CITY OF SEATTLE,
Appellant/Cross Respondent, )
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY )
INSTITUTE,
Appellant/Cross Respondent, )
SUZIE BURKE, an individual; GENE BURRUS)
and LEAH BURRUS, as individuals and the )
marital community comprised thereof, PAIGE )
DAVIS, an individual; FAYE GARNEAU, an )
individual; KRISTI DALE HOOFMAN, an )
individual; LEWIS M. HOROWITZ, an )
individual; TERESA JONES and NIGEL )
JONES, as individuals and the marital )
community comprised thereof; NICK LUCID )
and JESSICA LUCIO, as individuals and the )
marital community comprised thereof; LINDA )
R. MITCHELL, an individual; ERIKA KRISTINA)
NAGY, an individual; DON ROOT, an )
individual; LISA STERRITT and BRENT )
STERRITT, as individuals and the marital )
community comprised thereof; and NORMA )
TSUBOI, an individual,
Respondents,
v.
CITY OF SEATTLE, a municipality; SEATTLE )
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND )
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, a department )
of the City of Seattle; and FRED PODESTA, )
Director of the Seattle Department of Finance )
and Administrative Services, in his official )
capacity,
Appellants.
)
DENA LEVINE, an individual, )
CHRISTOPHER RUFO, an individual; )
MARTIN TOBIAS, an individual; NICHOLAS )
KERR, an individual; CHRIS MCKENZIE, an )
individual,
Respondents,
v. )
CITY OF SEATTLE, a municipal corporation, )
Appellant. )
SCOTT SHOCK; SALLY OLJAR; STEVE )
DAVIES; JOHN PALMER, )
Respondents,
v. )
) PUBLISHED OPINION
CITY OF SEATTLE, a Washington )
municipal corporation, )
) FILED: July 15, 2019
Appellant.
2
VERELLEN, J. —Whether the income tax levied by the city of Seattle is
statutorily authorized and constitutional depends on the precise nature of the tax.
For decades, scholars have debated whether an income tax is a property tax, an
excise tax, or its own separate category of tax.1 In a series of decisions dating back
to 1933, the Washington Supreme Court has unequivocally held income is property,
a tax on income is a tax on property, taxes on property must be uniformly levied, and
a graduated income tax is not uniform. Therefore, the Washington Constitution bars
any graduated income tax.2
Here, the superior court ruled Seattle did not have statutory authority to enact
its graduated income tax. Seattle and the Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI)
initially sought review in our Supreme Court, arguing in part that the Supreme Court
should reconsider the precise nature of an income tax. The Supreme Court
transferred the appeal to this court. We are constrained by stare decisis to follow our
Supreme Court’s existing decisions that an income tax is a property tax. We have no
authority to overrule, revise, or abrogate a decision by our Supreme Court.
We conclude Seattle has the statutory authority to adopt a property tax on
income, but our state constitution’s uniformity requirement bars Seattle’s graduated
income tax. Therefore, the Seattle income tax ordinance is unconstitutional.
1 See, e.g., Robert C. Brown, The Nature of the Income Tax, 17 MINN. L. REV.
127 (1933).
2 Power, Inc. v. Huntley, 39Wn.2d 191, 194, 235 P.2d 173 (1951) (quoting
Culliton V. Chase, 174 Wash. 363, 374, 25 P.2d 81(1933)); Jensen v. Henneford, 185
Wash. 209, 53 P.2d 607 (1936).
3
No. 79447-7-114
FACTS
Seattle enacted an ordinance in July of 2017 imposing an income tax on
high-income residents.3 Seattle “imposed a tax on the total income of every resident
taxpayer in the amount of their total income multiplied by” 2.25 percent for all income
above a certain threshold.4 The ordinance defines “total income” as “the amount
reported as income before any adjustments, deductions, or credits on a resident
taxpayer’s United States individual income tax return for the tax year, listed as ‘total
income’ on line 22 of Internal Revenue Service Form 1040.”~
The tax creates two classes of taxpayers: individuals filing singly and married
taxpayers filing jointly.6 The tax subdivides each class based on income. Individual
taxpayers earning more than $250,000 and married taxpayers earning more than
$500,000 must pay 2.25 percent of all income over those thresholds.7 To illustrate, a
family earning $600,000 would pay $2,250 in taxes, which is 2.25 percent of
$100,000.
~ Ch. 5.65 SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE (SMC).
~ SMC § 5.65.030(B).
~ SMC § 5.65.020(G). Taxpayers filing Form IRS 1 040A, Form 1041, and the
like would calculate their payment based on the equivalent line. ki. Total income is
now line 6 on the 2018 version of Form 1040. Schedule 1 for the 2018 version of
Form 1040 tabulates total income using the same lines as the former Form 1040.
6 SMC § 5.65.030(B). Each class includes similarly situated taxpayers. For
example, the tax classifies a married taxpayer filing separately with an unmarried
taxpayer filing individually. ki.
~ SMC § 5.65.030(B).
4
No. 79447-7-1/5
The Dana Levine group of plaintiffs, the Suzie Burke group, the Scott Shock
group, and individual Michael Kunath (tax opponents)8 filed four separate lawsuits to
enjoin enforcement of the ordinance.9 The court granted EOl’s motion to intervene
as a defendant and consolidated the lawsuits.1°
The superior court granted summary judgment for the tax opponents,
concluding no statute gave Seattle the authority to levy an income tax and, even if
Seattle otherwise had the authority, RCW 36.65.030 prohibited it from levying a net
income tax.11 The court also denied EOl’s constitutional challenges to
RCW 36.65.030. Having resolved the case on statutory grounds, the court declined
to rule on Shock’s remaining equal protection challenges to the ordinance.12 Kunath
then moved to sanction Seattle and EOl under Civil Rule 11 and for an award of
attorney fees under the common fund doctrine.13 The court denied both motions.14
Seattle and EOl appeal the court’s grant of summary judgment, and Kunath
cross appeals the court’s denial of his motions for sanctions and attorney fees.
8 For clarity, we refer by name to arguments made by an individual party where
only that party advanced the argument.
~ Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 1, 1608, 1629, 1658.
10 CP at 74-75, 247-51, 1713-14.
11 CP at 1305-13, 1318.
12 CP at 1313-1 8.
13 CP at 1320, 1365.
14 CP at 1544, 1548.
5
No. 79447-7-116
ANALYSIS
I. Background
After 1930, article VII, section 1 of our state constitution has required that “[a]ll
taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within the territorial limits of
the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected for public purposes
only. The word property’ as used herein shall mean and include everything, whether
tangible or intangible, subject to ownership.”15
Our Supreme Court’s first opportunity to interpret this language came in the
1933 case of Culliton v. Chase.16 That year, voters passed a statewide initiative
levying a graduated tax on net income.17 Taxpayers challenged the initiative, arguing
the graduated income tax was unconstitutional because it taxed property and
therefore violated the recently-enacted uniformity clause in article VII, section 1.18 In
declaring the tax unconstitutional, the Culliton court first distinguished income taxes
from excise taxes, reasoning that excise taxes are levied on an activity—such as the
sale, consumption, or manufacture of goods—or upon a privilege or license granted
by the state.19 The court also distinguished income taxes from estate taxes,
15 This language was added by constitutional amendment 14. Additional
amendments to article VII, section 1 do not affect the language relevant here.
16174 Wash. 363,387-88,25 P.2d 81(1933) (Blake, J. dissenting) (discussing
the recent history of article VII, section 1 and income taxation in the state).
17k1.at371, 372.
18kLat373.
~ld.at 377.
6
No. 79447-7-1/7
reasoning that an estate tax “is not really a tax at all” because “[i]t is an impost laid
but one time” on the state-granted right of heirs “to take” from an estate.2°
Turning to the “comprehensive definition of ‘property” in the constitution, the
court classified income as intangible property, stating, “Income is either property
under [article VII, section 1], or no one owns it.”21 “The overwhelming weight of
judicial authority is that ‘income’ is property and a tax upon income is a tax upon
property.”22 Because any income tax in Washington had to be uniform or be
unconstitutional,23 the graduated income tax was unconstitutional under article VII,
section 1 24
Three years later, the court again considered a net income tax in Jensen v.
Henneford.25 The State levied a graduated income tax on “every resident of
[Washington] for the privilege of receiving income therein while enjoying protections
of its laws.”26 Based on that language, the State argued it levied an excise tax not
subject to the constitution’s uniformity clause.27 But “[t]he character of a tax is
determined by its incidents, not by its name.”28 Because Culliton established that the
broad definition of property in article VII, section 1 encompassed income, the Jensen
20k1.at378.
21 ki. at 374.
22 Id.Id. at 379.
24 Ri at 378-79.
25 185 Wash. 209, 53 P.2d 607 (1936).
26 kJ. at 212 (emphasis omitted) (quoting LAWS OF 1935, ch. 178, § 2).
27 Id. at 215, 217.
28 kI. at 217.
7
No. 79447-7-1/8
court held the purported excise tax was an income tax subject to the uniformity
clause in article VII, section 1 29 Because the taxing scheme taxed income below
$4,000 at three percent and income above $4,000 at four percent, it was an
unconstitutional nonuniform tax on property.3°
In 1951, Power, Inc. v. Huntley evaluated a statewide “corporation excise tax”
that levied a four percent tax on a corporation’s net income ‘for the privilege of
exercising its corporate franchise in this state or for the privilege of doing business in
this state.”31 The tax did not apply to sole proprietorships or partnerships.32 The
central question before the court was whether the tax fell on income rather than
being a true excise. If a tax on income, then it violated the uniformity clause of article
VII, section 1 by only affecting certain forms of corporations and not other companies
in competition with them.33 The Power court set aside the language of the tax,
analyzed its incidents, and concluded it was “a mere property tax masquerading as
an excise.”34 Under the taxing scheme, a Washington corporation with zero net
income would not pay any income tax, while a foreign corporation doing business in
Washington would pay taxes on activities unconnected to the privilege of conducting
business in Washington.35 Also, the scheme hewed closely to federal corporate
29 kI. at 219-20.
Id. at 220.
31 39Wn.2d 191, 193, 235 P.2d 173 (1951).
32kLat 195.
~ Id.34k1.at 196 (internal quotation marks omitted).
35kI.at 196-97.
8
No. 79447-7-119
income tax law, illustrating its true nature as an income tax. The court concluded the
tax was a nonuniform property tax and therefore unconstitutional.36
We consider the statutory and constitutional issues in this case within the clear
bounds of these precedents.37 It is no longer subject to question . . . that income is
property.”38 Taxes are to be evaluated by their incidents rather than by their
legislative designation.39 And a net income tax, whether levied on a corporation or a
natural person, must be uniform to comply with article VII, section 1 of our
constitution 40
II. Justiciability
Before addressing the tax’s statutory and constitutional validity, we must
address Shock’s threshold contention that these issues are nonjusticiable political
questions.41 Shock contends, “The City’s request that this Court reverse nearly a
century of case law holding that income is personal property, and therefore subject to
the Constitution’s uniformity tax requirement, is not appropriate for judicial
determination.”42 But it is well settled that Washington courts have the power to hear
36 Id.~See 1000 Virginia Ltd. P’ship v. Vertecs Corp., 158 Wn.2d 566, 578, 146
P.3d 423 (2006) (“When the Court of Appeals fails to follow directly controlling
authority by this court, it errs.”).
38 Power, 39 Wn.2d at 194 (citing Culliton, 174 Wash, at 374).
39Jensen, 185 Wash. at 217.
~° Power, 39 Wn.2d at 195 (citing WASH. CONST. art. VII, § 1); Jensen, 185
Wash. at 219; Culliton, 174 Wash, at 374.
41 Lee v. State, 185 Wn.2d 608, 616, 374 P.3d 157 (2016).
42 Shock Resp’t’s Br. at 9.
9
No. 79447-7-1/10
constitutional challenges to tax laws,43 which is why we are guided by “nearly a
century of case law” on these issues. The issues raised in this case are justiciable.
III. Standard of Review
We review summary judgment orders and questions of constitutional and
statutory interpretation de novo.44 We interpret statutes and ordinances to discern
and implement the legislative body’s intent.45 We give effect to a statute’s plain
meaning as a statement of legislative intent.46 A statute’s plain meaning can be
discerned from the language of the statute itself, other provisions of the same act,
and related statutes.47 Terms in a statute are read with their common and ordinary
meaning, absent ambiguity or a statutory definition.48 A dictionary can supply an
undefined term’s ordinary meaning.49 “Only when the plain, unambiguous meaning
43 See Lee, 185 Wn.2d at 616 (citing WASH. CONST. art. IV, §4; RCW2.04.010)
(Supreme Court has jurisdiction over constitutional and statutory challenges to
statutes); RCW 2.06.030 (Supreme Court can transfer cases to the court of appeals);
see also WASH. CONST. art. IV, § 6 (superior courts have original jurisdiction over “the
legality of any tax”).
~ Sheehan v. Cent. Puget Sound Reg’l Transit Auth., 155 Wn.2d 790, 796-97,
123 P.3d 88(2005).
~ Watson v. City of Seattle, 189 Wn.2d 149, 158, 401 P.3d 1(2017); Sheehan,
155 Wn.2d at 797.
46 Sheehan, 155 Wn.2d at 797 (quoting Dept of Ecology v. Campbell & Gwinn,
LLC, 146 Wn.2d 1, 9-10,43 P.3d 4(2002)).
~‘ k~. (quoting Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wn.2d at 10); Washington Pub. Ports
Ass’n v. State, Dept of Revenue, 148 Wn.2d 637, 647-48, 62 P.3d 462 (2003) (citing
Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wn.2d at 11-12).
48 HomeStreet, Inc. v. State, Dep’t of Revenue, 166 Wn.2d 444, 451, 210 P.3d
297 (2009).
~ Id.10
No. 79447-7-Ill 1
cannot be derived through such an inquiry will it be appropriate [for a reviewing court]
to resort to aids to construction.”5°
IV. Statutory Taxing Authority
Washington municipalities have no inherent power to levy taxes because our
constitution vests that power with the legislature.51 But the constitution authorizes
legislative delegations of taxing power to municipalities. Under article VII, section 9,
the legislature can delegate power to municipalities “to make local improvements by
special assessment.” Article Xl, section 12 both prohibits the legislature from levying
local taxes for “municipal purposes” and empowers the legislature to enact “general
laws” that ‘vest in [municipalities] the power to assess and collect taxes” for municipal
purposes. These constitutional provisions are not self-executing, however, so the
legislature must grant taxing authority to the municipality.52 Municipal taxes enacted
without delegated authority are invalid.53
ROW 35.22.280(2) explicitly grants first-class cities authority to levy a property
tax on real or personal property for municipal needs.54 Under Culliton and its
50 Sheehan, 155 Wn.2d at 797 (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wn.2d at 12).
51 City of Spokane v. Horton, 189 Wn.2d 696, 702, 406 P.3d 638 (2017) (citing
WASH. Const. art. I, § 1; State ex rel. King County Tax Comm’n, 174 Wash. 668, 671,
26 P.2d 80 (1933)).
52 King Countyv. City of Algona, 101 Wn.2d 789, 791, 681 P.2d 1281 (1984);
Carkonen v. Williams, 76 Wn.2d 617, 627, 458 P.2d 280 (1969).
53Watson, 189 Wn.2d at 166-67.
~ Seattle’s municipal needs include addressing homelessness, providing
affordable housing, education, and transit, and providing funding for mental health and
public health services. SMC § 5.65.010(A).
11
No. 79447-7-1112
progeny, an income tax is a property tax.55 Thus, Seattle’s income tax was
authorized by ROW 35.22.280(2). At oral argument, tax opponents asserted
ROW 35.22.280(2) did not authorize Seattle’s tax because income is a form of
intangible property rather than real or personal property. But personal property can
be intangible,56 and income is intangible property under our constitution.57
Accordingly, Seattle possessed valid statutory authority to levy a property tax on
income.58
~ ~ Jensen, 185 Wash. 216 (explaining that “income is property, and that an
income tax is a property tax, and not an excise tax”).
56 RAY ANDREWS BROWN, WALTER B. RAUSHENBUSH, THE LAW OF PERSONAL
PROPERTY § 8.1, at 154 (3rd ed. 1975) (explaining that ‘the major part of what today
constitutes personal property. consists of so-called choses in action”); see
. .
Heermans v. Blakeslee, 97 Wash. 647, 648-49, 167 P. 128 (1917) (holding that an
assignment of the right to receive income is assignment of a chose in action); In re
Marriage of Kraft, 61 Wn. App. 45, 49 n.2, 808 P.2d 1176 (1991) (explaining the right
to receive income can be a chose in action); see also State of Cal. v. Tax Oomm’n of
State, 55 Wn.2d 155, 158, 346 P.2d 1006 (1959) (“Corporate shares of stock are
personal property.”).
~ Oulliton, 174 Wash, at 374 (for our constitution’s taxation provisions “incomes
necessarily fall within the category of intangible property”). In addition, as tax
opponents acknowledged at oral argument, our constitution does not prohibit taxes on
income so long as those taxes are uniform. ,~ k~. at 379 (“It may be possible to
frame an income tax law which will assess all incomes uniformly and comply with our
[c]onstitution.”).
58 Qf course, neither Seattle nor EDI argued for the applicability of
ROW 35.22.280(2) because both contend that the income tax is not a property tax at
all. The starting point for our analysis has to be the binding precedent that a tax on
income is a tax on property.
In a statement of additional authorities, tax opponents point us to a statute
excluding “intangible personal property” from ad valorem taxes. ROW 84.36.070(1).
The premise of the tax opponents’ contention appears to be that any tax on income is
a prohibited ad valorem tax on intangible personal property. But this premise is
inconsistent with the statute’s text and legislative history. First, RCW 84.36.070 has
never listed “income” as intangible property. ROW 84.36.070(2); LAWS OF 1931,
ch. 96, § 1. Second, the legislature enacted RCW 84.36.070 in 1931 following the
passage of amendment 14 to article VII, section 1, which allowed taxation of intangible
personal property. State ex rel. Atwood v. Wooster, 163 Wash. 659, 663-64, 2 P.2d
12No. 79447-7-1113
Seattle also contends RCW 35.22.570 grants first-class cities authority to levy
an income tax by according it powers enumerated in Title 35A RCW, the optional
municipal code.59 Seattle is a first-class city with a governing charter and has not
opted into the optional municipal code.6° Nevertheless, ROW 35.22.570 grants first
class charter cities “all the powers which are conferred upon incorporated cities and
towns by this title [Title 35 ROW] or other laws of the state, and all such powers as
are usually exercised by municipal corporations of like character and degree.”
The plain language of ROW 35.22.570 grants first-class charter cities “all of
the powers” conferred upon all other ‘incorporated cities” by both Title 35 ROW and
Title 35A ROW. Additionally, we construe ROW 35.22.570 liberally when determining
the legislature’s intent.61 Thus, it appears the legislature intended to grant broad
powers of self-governance on first-class charter cities through the grants of authority
in both Title 35 ROW and Title 35A ROW.62
653 (1931) (citing LAWS OF 1931, ch. 96, § 1). And even after the Oulliton decision
clearly stated income is intangible property, the legislature enacted the net income tax
at issue in Jensen. See Jensen, 185 Wash. at 211, 215-16 (citing LAWS OF 1935, ch.
178). It would be incongruous to conclude that at the same time the legislature
enacted a tax on income, it also intended ROW 84.36.070 to impede a tax on income.
We decline to read the word “income” into ROW 84.36.070(2).
~ Seattle Appellant’s Br. at 41, 46.
60See ROW 35.01 .010 (“A first-class city is a city with a population of ten
thousand or more at the time of its organization or reorganization that has a charter
adopted under [a]rticle Xl, section 10, of the state [cjonstitution.”).
61 ROW 35.22.900.
62 See Watson, 189 Wn.2d at 170 n.8 (relying on ROW 35.22.570 to conclude
that ROW 35A.82.020 granted Seattle “the same tax authority granted to code cities”);
see also Hugh Spitzer, “Home Rule” vs. “Dillon’s Rule” for Washington Oities, 38
SEATTLE U.L. REV. 809, 839-40 (2015) (explaining that the 1965 amendments to
chapter 35.22 ROW “expressly broadened the powers of first class charter cities.”).
13
No. 79447-7-1114
In the optional municipal code, RCW 35A. 11 .020 grants general taxing
authority to cities.63 “Within constitutional limitations, legislative bodies of code cities
shall have within their territorial limits all powers of taxation for local purposes.”64 A
related statute provides “[p]owers of. . . taxation . . . may be exercised by the
legislative bodies of code cities in the manner provided in this title or by the general
law of the state where not inconsistent with this title.”65 And the legislature’s
statement of purpose for chapter 35A.1 1 ROW is unambiguously broad: “The
general grant of municipal power conferred by this chapter and this title . . . is
intended to confer the greatest power of local self-government consistent with the
[c]onstitution of this state and shall be construed liberally in favor of such cities.”66
ROW 35A.11 .020’s unambiguous language demonstrates the legislature’s intent to
provide a “general grant of taxing power” to raise revenue for local purposes.67
63SeeCityofPortAnqelesv. OurWater-OurChoice!, 170 Wn.2d 1, 15 n.7, 239
P.3d 589 (2010) (“In our view, RCW 35A.11.020 grants code cities broad, though
specific, powers notwithstanding ‘Dillon’s Rule’ (which limits municipal powers to those
specifically granted or necessarily implied).”); accord k1. at 20 (Sanders, J. dissenting)
(ROW 35A.11 .020 “is a general grant of authority.”).
64 RCW 35A. 11 .020 (emphasis added). The statute expressly withholds
authority for municipal levies of taxes on liquor, insurers, and insurance producers. ki.
(citing RCW 66.08.120, 48.14.020, and 48.14.080). These restrictions are not relevant
here.
65 RCW35A.11.030.
66 RCW 35A. 11.050; see City of Wenatchee v. Chelan County Pub. Util. Dist.
No. 1, 181 Wn. App. 326, 337, 325 P.3d 419 (2014) (noting the “legislature’s directive
that all grants of authority in Title 35A ROW, whether specific or general, be liberally
construed in favor of the municipality”).
67 Algona, 101 Wn.2d at 792. Tax opponents rely on Algona to contend
RCW35A.11.020 confers no actual taxing authority and instead shows that a city
requires additional and specific tax authorization. In Algona, the city levied a business
and occupation tax on revenue King County received from operating a solid waste
transfer station in the city. j.çj~ at 790. King County sued to recoup its tax payments.
Id. at 791. The county argued, and the court agreed, that the governmental immunity
14
No. 79447-7-1/15
The breadth of the taxing authority from this statute, however, is not so great
as to overwhelm article VII, section 1 of our constitution. Culliton holds that income is
property under the constitution, so any proper exercise of authority to tax income
would levy a tax on property, no matter the label attached by the enacting legislative
body. Thus, regardless of the quality of the argument, we decline Seattle’s invitation
to offer an advisory opinion on whether an income tax should be analyzed as an
excise tax or a tax sui generis.
Tax opponents argue that the legislature constrained its grants of taxing
authority to Seattle by enacting RCW 36.65.030, a statute prohibiting any “county,
city, or city-county” from levying “a tax on net income.” Seattle and EOl insist the
statute is inapplicable because Seattle’s ordinance taxes “total” income rather than
“net” income.
“‘The character of a tax is determined by its incidents, not by its name.”68 To
determine the incidence of a tax, we consider “who is being taxed, what is being
taxed, and how the tax is measured.”69 Here, there is no dispute that Seattle
residents would be taxed on their income. The issue is whether the amount a Seattle
resident would pay in taxes is measured by their net income.
doctrine prevented one municipality from taxing another without express statutory
authorization. ~ at 793. Because chapter 35A.11 ROW did not expressly allow one
municipality to tax another, the court held the city’s business and occupation tax was
unconstitutional. k~. at 794-95. Here, Seattle attempted to tax city residents rather
than another municipality. Algona is not helpful to the tax opponents.
68 Washington Pub. Ports Ass’n, 148 Wn.2d at 650 (quoting Harbour Village
Apartments v. City of Mukilteo, 139 Wn.2d 604, 607, 989 P.2d 542 (1999)).
69 P. Lorillard Co. v. City of Seattle, 83 Wn.2d 586, 589, 521 P.2d 208 (1974).
15
No. 79447-7-1116
Seattle defines “total income” as “the amount reported as income before any
adjustments, deductions, or credits on a resident taxpayer’s United States individual
income tax return for the tax year, listed as ‘total income’ on line 22 of Internal
Revenue Service Form 1O40.”~° ROW 36.65.030 does not define “net income,” so
we look to the dictionary.71 “Net income” is “the balance of gross income remaining
after deducting related costs and expenses [usually] for a given period and losses
allocable to the period.”72 Thus, to be something other than a net income tax,
Seattle’s tax must extend to gross income. For the purposes of this analysis, “gross
income” is “the total of all revenue or receipts [usually] for a given period except
receipts or returns of capital.”73 Seattle contends the total income amount on line 22
of Form 1040 is “the unadjusted gross income received by an individual or joint
resident taxpayer.”74 We disagree.
Line 22 on IRS Form 1040 is an aggregate of different income sources.75 It
includes wages, business income, rental and partnership income, and 11 other
sources.76 But several of those sources are measured by net income, For example,
the sole proprietor of a business would calculate her income using IRS Form
~° SMC § 5.65.020(G).
71 HomeStreet, 166 Wn.2d at 451.
72 WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW INT’L DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1520 (3d
ed. 2002).
73k1.at 1002.
~ Seattle Reply Br. at 3 (boldface omitted).
75 OP at 1147.
76 Id.
16
No. 79447-7-1/17
Schedule C and report it on line 12 of Form 1040.~~ Using Schedule C, she would
first total her gross income.78 Next, she would tabulate 20 different expenses,
including legal and professional services, taxes and licenses, wages, and advertising,
and then deduct the total of those expenses from her gross income.79 From that
amount, she could also deduct the expense of the business use of her home.8° The
amount remaining is identified on Schedule C as her net profit (or loss)” to be
reported on Form 1040.81 Similarly, the amount reported on line 17 of Form 1040 is
also a net calculation.82
Seattle and EQI argue line 22 reflects gross income when viewed from an
individual taxpayer’s perspective because any deductions are for expenses
attributable to a business rather than the individual taxpayer.83 But as amici Greater
Seattle Business Association and Ethnic Business Coalition explain, a sole
proprietor’s calculation of her total income represents her gross income from her
individual business activities only after deducting her individual costs and expenses
from conducting those activities. For that sole proprietor, her income is the
business’s income, from any perspective. Further, any taxpayer could have a large
77CPat 1147, 1149.
78CP at 1149.
~ Id.
80 Id.
81 Id.
82 See CP at 1155-56. IRS Form Schedule E is used to calculate the amount
reported on line 17. Id. Like Schedule C, a landlord using Schedule E would deduct
expenses for advertising, travel, repairs, taxes, utilities, depreciation, and others when
calculating the amount of rental income to report on Form 1040. ki.
83 EQI Appellant’s Br. at 41-42.
17
No. 79447-7-1/18
gross income but no total income because of the dozens of above-the-line
deductions permitted in the tax code.84 Seattle’s analogy to take-home pay as the
measure of true total income is not compelling. Line 22 is not a measure of gross
income.
We agree with the trial court’s conclusion: “[A] ‘total income’ figure that
includes ‘net proceeds’ necessarily reflects the result of a netting process, and thus is
‘net income.”85 Because Seattle’s income tax measures a city resident’s taxable
income based on the sum of net calculations, it is a net income tax. For purposes of
ROW 36.65.030, Seattle’s income tax is a tax on net rather than gross income.
Seattle’s income tax falls within the prohibition in ROW 36.65.030.
This statutory prohibition is irrelevant, however, if it is itself unconstitutional.
EOl contends ROW 36.65.030 is unconstitutional because the legislation that
enacted the prohibition, Substitute Senate Bill 4313, violated sections 19 and 37 of
article II in our constitution.
Article II, section 19 states, “No bill shall embrace more than one subject, and
that shall be expressed in the title.”86 This translates into two requirements: the
“single subject rule” and the “subject in title rule.”87 EOl’s appeal focuses solely on
the single subject rule.
84 See I.R.O. § 62(a)(2) (listing above-the-line deductions).
85 OP at 1313.
86 WASH. OoNsT. art. II, § 19.
Oitizens for Responsible Wildlife Mqmt. v. State, 149 Wn.2d 622, 632, 71
87
P.3d 644 (2003).
18
No. 79447-7-1119
A section 19 analysis “is limited to the title and body of the act”88 because “the
constitutional inquiry is founded on the question whether a measure is drafted in such
a way that those voting on it may be required to vote for something of which the voter
disapproves in order to obtain approval of an unrelated law.”89 Evidence beyond the
bill’s four corners is beyond the court’s inquiry.90
“The plain language of [article II, section 19] makes it mandatory that the
members of the legislature be given the opportunity to consider legislative subjects in
separate bills, so that each subject may stand or fall upon its own merits or
demerits.”91 Accordingly, the single subject rule guards against logrolling, which is
combining multiple measures that could not pass separately, and riding, which is
pushing through unpopular legislation by attaching it to popular or necessary
legislation.92 Where legislation has multiple subjects, “‘it is impossible for the court to
88 kI. at 639; see Wash. Fed’n of State Emps. v. State, 127 Wn.2d 544, 556,
901 P.2d 1028 (1995) (“[A] court examines the body of the act to determine whether
the title reflects the subject matter of the act.”).
89 Amalg. Transit Union Local 587 v. State, 142 Wn.2d 183, 212, 11 P.3d 762(2000).
90 See Wildlife Mgmt., 149 Wn.2d at 639 (disregarding as “not relevant”
arguments that were based on testimony given in a state senate hearing about a
measure’s constitutionality under the single subject rule); Amalg. Transit, 142 Wn.2d at
212 (“Thus, regardless of what is in the Voters Pamphlet or the history of the initiative,
the rational relationship inquiry centers on what is in the measure itself, i.e., whether
the measure contains unrelated laws.”).
91 Washington Toll Bridge Auth. v. State, 49 Wn.2d 520, 525, 304 P.2d 676(1956).
92 Am. Hotel & Lodging Ass’n v. City of Seattle, 6 Wn. App. 2d 928, 938, 432
P.3d 434 (2018) (citing Wash. Ass’n for Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention v.
State, 174 Wn.2d 642, 655, 278 P.3d 632 (2012) (WASAVP)); Robert D. Cooter&
Michael D. Gilbert, A Theory of Direct Democracy and the Single Subiect Rule, 110
COLUM. L. REV. 687, 705-06 (2010)), review granted, 193 Wn.2d 1008, 439 P.3d 1069(2019); see Amalg. Transit, 142 Wn.2d at 190 (single subject rule prevents legislators
from having to vote for a law they disfavor to obtain approval of a law they favor).
19
No. 79447-7-1/20
assess whether either subject would have received majority support if voted on
separately.”93 A bill that violates the single subject rule is void in its entirety.94
When determining if a bill violated the single subject rule, the first step is
classifying the bill’s title as general or restrictive.95 “A general title is broad,
comprehensive, and generic; a few well-chosen words, suggesting the general topic,
are all that is needed.”96 A restrictive title attempts to carve out a particular part of a
subject to be the single subject of the legislation.97 SSB 4313 was titled “AN ACT
relating to local government; and adding a new chapter to Title 36 RCW.”98 Because
this is expansive and generic, SSB 4313 has a general title.99
~ Am. Hotel, 6 Wn. App. 2d at 939 (quoting City of Burien v. Kiqa, 144 Wn.2d
819, 825, 31 P.3d 659 (2001)).
~ Lee, 185 Wn.2d at 620.
~ State v. Haviland, 186 Wn. App. 214, 219, 345 P.3d 831 (2015) (quoting
State v. Alexander, 184 Wash. App. 892, 340 P.3d 247 (2014)); see Lee, 185 Wn.2d
at 620 (“Whether an initiative violates the single subject rule generally starts with the
ballot title.”).
96[~e, 185 Wn.2d at 620-21.
~ Wildlife Mgmt., 149 Wn.2d at 633 (quoting State v. Broadaway, 133 Wn.2d
118, 127, 942 P.2d 363 (1997)).
98 LAWS OF 1984, ch. 91. EDI concedes this is the title for purposes of appeal.
EQI Appellant’s Br. at 28 n.7. Even if EOl continued to argue on appeal, as it did
below, that the relevant title was the one added by the code reviser, “the legislative
title is the relevant title because it
. is the title which appears on the proposed bill
. .
before [legislators].” Broadaway, 133 Wn.2d at 125.
~ EOI and tax opponents disagree about whether the topic of SSB 4313 is
“local government” or “city-county government.” ~ EOl Appellant’s Br. at 29; Kunath
Resp’t’s Br. at 23-24; Levine/Burke Resp. to EDI Br. at 11-13. We need not resolve
this dispute because it does not affect the constitutionality of SSB 4313.
20
No. 79447-7-1/21
Where legislation has a general title, the next step is determining whether the
legislation has rational unity.10° “Rational unity exists when the matters within the
body of the initiative are germane to the general title ~j~çj to one another.”101 A useful
measure for rational unity is whether a bill’s myriad subparts are connected by a
common unifying theme.102
In Barde v. State, the court held two statutes were unconstitutionally enacted
in violation of article II, section 19.103 The legislature passed a bill entitled “AN ACT
Relating to the taking or withholding of property.”104 The bill had two sections. The
first made it a gross misdemeanor to kill, injure, secret, or convert any dog.105 The
second authorized recovery of costs and attorney fees for a replevin action to recover
100 WASAVP, 174 Wn.2d at 656 (quoting Kiga, 144 Wn.2d at 826); Haviland,
186 Wn. App. at 220 (quoting Amal. Transit, 142 Wn.2d at 209).
101 Fib Foods, LLC v. City of SeaTac, 183 Wn.2d 770, 782-83, 357 P.3d 1040(2015) (emphasis added); see WASAVP, 174 Wn.2d at 656 (explaining that evaluating
rational unity involves looking for the “general purpose of the particular legislative
act”) (quoting State ex rel. Wash. Toll Bridge Auth. v. Yelle, 61 Wn.2d 28, 33, 377
P.2d 466 (1962.)).
102 See Wash. Fed’n of State Emjs., 127 Wn.2d at 576 (Talmadge, J.,
concurring in part) (“If the title of the enactment is a ‘laundry list’ of the contents of the
legislation, this is suggestive of the possibility that the [Ijegislature or the proponents of
a popular enactment could not articulate a single unifying principle for the contents of
the measure. Similarly, a law containing subdivisions that allegedly relate to a subject
such as ‘fiscal affairs,’ ‘government,’ or ‘public welfare’ could violate the single-subject
provision because the subject matter was excessively general.”). Justice Talmadge
identifies five indicia he argues should be weighed when considering a question of
rational unity. jçj, at 573-76. These are largely evidentiary considerations. k1.
Because our Supreme Court has since held section 19 analyses are to be restricted to
the legislation itself, Wildlife Mgmt., 149 Wn.2d at 639, only the concept of a “single
unifying principle” is still helpful. Thus, the parties’ arguments that rely on extrinsic
evidence are unavailing.
103 9Q Wn.2d 470, 472, 584 P.2d 390 (1978).
104kLat471.
105 Id.21
No. 79447-7-1/22
stolen goods from a pawnbroker.106 The court noted an arguable unity existed
“between replevin and ‘dognapping’ inasmuch as both relate to personal property,”
but the actual substance of the second section involved recovery of costs and
attorney fees for a civil tort that only happened to be replevin.107 Accordingly, the
court held no rational unity existed between the subsections and invalidated the
statutes enacted by the bill.108
More recently, the court in Washington Association for Substance Abuse and
Violence Prevention v. State held a large, comprehensive ballot initiative did not
violate the single subject rule.109 The initiative had a lengthy, but general, title:
Initiative Measure No. 1183 concerns liquor: beer, wine, and spirits
(hard liquor). This measure would close state liquor stores and sell
their assets; license private parties to sell and distribute spirits; set
license fees based on sales; regulate licensees; and change regulation
of wine distribution.[~°]
The initiative directed certain expenditures from the “Liquor Revolving Fund,” which
was the longstanding state account funded by all monies received by the then-Liquor
Control Board.~ The initiative also imposed fees on retailers and distributors of hard
liquor, modified wine distribution laws, authorized private hard liquor sales, and
changed advertising regulations for alcohol.~2 Central to the court’s analysis was the
well-established link between alcohol regulation, public safety, and revenue
106 Id.107k1.at472.
108 Id.109 174 Wn.2d 642, 660, 278 P.3d 632 (2012).
647
k~. at 648.
112 kL at 649-51.
22
No. 79447-7-1/23
generation.113 And liquor was historically governed by a single comprehensive
regulatory regime.114 Unlike Barde, the initiative had liquor regulation as its common
unifying theme rather than combining two unlike subjects. The initiative satisfied the
single subject rule because its comprehensive regulations all had clear links to the
title and each other by directly regulating alcoholic beverages or by being closely
related to the consequences of alcohol regulation.115
In American Hotel & Lodging Association v. City of Seattle, this court recently
held a Seattle ballot initiative that “concern{ed] health, safety and labor standards for
Seattle hotel employees” violated single subject restrictions.~6 The ballot initiative
contained “at least four distinct and separate purposes.”~7 Part 1 protected hotel
employees from violent assault and sexual harassment.Hs Part 2 protected hotel
employees from on-the-job injuries.119 Part 3 aimed to improve hotel employees’
access to health care.12° Part 4 provided job security to certain low income hotel
workers.121 Although each section related to the general health, safety, and labor
issues of hotel employees, the sections’ public policy purposes and operative
113 Seeid. at 657 (‘1-1183’s provision of funds for public safety actually has a
closer nexus to the subject of liquor than does the general revenue provision that has
existed since the State began regulating liquor.”).
114 Id. 659.
115 Id.1166 Wn. App. 2d 928, 932, 432 P.3d 434 (2018), review granted, 193 Wn.2d
1008, 439 P.3d 1069 (2019) (emphasis omitted).
Id. at 941.
118 Id.
119 Id.
120 Id.
121ki.at 942.
23
No. 79447-7-1/24
provisions were “completely unrelated” to each other.122 In the absence of a common
unifying theme, this ballot initiative violated the single subject standard.
Here, Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 4313 contained five sections legally
relevant for purposes of a single subject analysis.123 Tax opponents argue SSB 4313
had rational unity because article XI, section 16 of the constitution requires that any
restriction imposed on a city-county also be imposed on cities and counties, and
SSB 4313 was intended to implement article Xl, section 16.124 But they fail to identify
the required rational unity between all five operative sections of the bill.125
Unlike Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention,
the several subjects in SSB 4313 lack a common unifying theme. Section 2
preserved school districts as entities distinct from city-counties.126 Section 3
prohibited any municipality from levying a net income tax.127 Section 4 concerned
state revenue calculations and allocations during the year following the formation of a
city-county.128 Section 5 preserved certain collective bargaining rights for police
122 Id.
123 Although six of the seven sections in the legislation were codified at chapter
36.65 RCW, LAwS OF 1984, ch. 91, § 7, the statement of intent in section 1 of the
legislation is not part of the single subject analysis. WASAVP, 174 Wn.2d at 659(“Policy expressions [1 do not contribute additional subjects within the meaning of the
single-subject rule.”). Section 7 of SSB 4313 was a technical section stating that
sections 1 through 6 in the bill would form a new chapter.
124 Kunath Resp’t’s Br. at 22-23; Levine/Burke Resp. to EOl Br. at 14-15.
125See Fib, 183 Wn.2d at 782-83 (rational unity is required within all
subsections and with the title).
126 LAWS OF 1984, ch. 91, § 2.
127~~ 3~
128 kI § 4.
24
No. 79447-7-1/25
officers and firefighters in city-county governments.129 And section 6 preserved
pension and disability benefits for all current and former municipal employees
affected by the formation of a city-county.13° Three of the five substantive sections
are limited to the city-county form of government, and section 4 applies to state
government financing regarding a city-county. But section 3 applies broadly to cities,
counties, and city-counties. The city-county form of government is not a true unifying
theme for these disparate subsections. The subsections are not adequately
germane to each other. The only seeming connection between all subsections of the
bill was that they generally relate to, as the bill title states, local government. But this
general subject is so expansive that literally any set of legislative enactments
affecting any aspect of towns, cities, or city-counties would purport to satisfy the
rational unity test, thus undermining the purpose of the single subject rule.131 As in
Barde and American Hotel, SSB 4313 lacks rational unity between its subparts.
Because it is impossible to assess whether the broad prohibition on net
income taxes would have passed without the bill’s unrelated provisions, SSB 4313
violated the single subject rule in article II, section 19132 Accepting tax opponents’
arguments would set a low bar for rational unity and fail to uphold the purposes of
article II, section 19. Accordingly, chapter 36.65 ROW, which was enacted in its
129~~5
13O~~6
131 See Wash. Fed’n of State Emps., 127 Wn.2d at 576 (Talmadge, J.,
concurring in part) (an “excessively general” subject could violate the single subject
rule where the bill lacks a unifying theme); see also Wash. Toll Bridge Auth., 49 Wn.2d
at 524 (explaining the purpose of the single subject rule “is to avoid hodgepodge and
‘logrolling’ legislation”) (quoting Power, 39 Wn.2d at 198).
132 Kiga, 144 Wn.2d at 825.
25
No. 79447-7-1/26
entirety by SSB 4313, is unconstitutional.133 Because we hold SSB 4313 is
unconstitutional in its entirety for violating article II, section 19, we do not need to
consider whether section three of SSB 4313 also violated article II, section 37.
V. Constitutionality of Seattle’s Graduated Income Tax
Having addressed the statutory questions surrounding Seattle’s authority to
levy a net income tax, we now consider whether its tax is unconstitutional. Article VII,
section 1 contains a comprehensive definition of ‘property” and requires that all taxes
be uniform on the same classes of property.134
All taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within the
territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and
collected for public purposes only. The word “property” as used herein
shall mean and include everything, whether tangible or intangible,
subject to ownership.[’35)
As discussed above, this text first appeared in article VII, section 1 in 1930 after the
passage of amendment 14. And in Culliton, our Supreme Court held that within the
meaning of our constitution, “income is property, and that an income tax is a property
tax.”136 Because Seattle levied a property tax on income, it is unconstitutional unless
levied uniformly.
Under Seattle’s graduated taxing scheme, income is broken into two classes
and taxed at different rates depending on its classification.137 For example, all
individual income above $250,000 is taxed at a rate of 2.25 percent, and all income
133 See Lee, 185 Wn.2d at 620 (legislation “is void in its entirety” when it
violates the single subject rule).
134 Culliton, 174 Wash, at 374.
135 WASH. CONST. art. VII, § 1.
136 Jensen, 185 Wash, at 216 (citing Culliton, 174 Wash, at 374).
137 SMC § 5.65.030(B).
26
No. 79447-7-1127
below $250,000 is taxed at zero percent.138 This is nonuniform taxation levied upon
income, a single class of property. Whether authorized by ROW 35.22.280(2) or
ROW 35A.11.020, Seattle’s graduated income tax violates the uniformity clause in
article VII, section 1 and is unconstitutional.139
VI. Cross Appeal
The remaining issues concern Kunath’s cross appeal of the court’s denial of
his motions for CR 11 sanctions and for attorney fees.
We review a decision to impose or deny CR 11 sanctions for abuse of
discretion.14° The purpose behind CR 11 is to deter baseless filings and to curb
abuses of the judicial system.141 A filing “must lack a legal or factual basis before it
can become the proper subject of CR 11 sanctions.”142 And even then, an attorney
cannot be sanctioned unless they also failed to conduct a reasonable inquiry into the
138 Id.
139 Because the tax is unconstitutional under article VII, section 1, we decline to
consider Shock’s argument that the tax violates equal protection guarantees in the
Washington and United States Constitutions; although, we note that statutes based on
economic distinctions generally satisfy the rational basis test. See Welch v. Henry,
305 U.S. 134, 143-44, 59 S. Ct. 121, 83 L. Ed. 87(1938) (income tax rate
classifications do not violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
so long as “reasonabl[y} relat[ed] to a legitimate end of governmental action”); accord
Am. Legion Post # 149 v. Wash. State Dep’t of Health, 164 Wn.2d 570, 609, 192 P.3d
306 (2008) (Social and economic legislation that does not implicate a suspect class or
fundamental right is presumed to be rational; this presumption may be overcome by a
clear showing that the law is arbitrary and irrational.”).
140 Heckard v. Murray, 5 Wn. App. 2d 586, 594, 428 P.3d 141 (2018), review
denied, 192 Wn.2d 1013, 432 P.3d 783 (2019). Although Kunath moved for CR11
sanctions against both Seattle and EQI, on appeal, he appears to have conceded
denial of his motion for sanctions against Seattle by arguing the trial court erred only
as to EOl. See Kunath Resp’t’s Br. at 17-20, 46.
141 Heckard, 5 Wn. App. 2d at 595.
142 Bryantv. Joseph Tree, Inc., 119 Wn.2d 210, 220, 829 P.2d 1099 (1992).
27
No. 79447-7-1/28
factual and legal basis of the claim.143 EOI’s argument before the trial court about the
title of SSB 4313 may have been incorrect,144 but making a legally inaccurate
argument does not, without more, expose an attorney to sanctions under CR 11 145
Kunath fails to show the court abused its discretion.
We review a decision to award or deny attorney fees for abuse of discretion.146
Kunath sought fees under the “common fund” doctrine.147 He requested that the
court award him $35,000,000, which is 25 percent of the $140,000,000 Seattle
estimated it would collect annually through its income tax.148 The common fund
doctrine is a narrow equitable ground that authorizes an award of fees “only when a
litigant preserves or creates a common fund for the benefit of others as well as
themselves.”149 Attorney fees awarded under the common fund doctrine are paid by
the prevailing party, which pays attorney fees out of the fund created or preserved for
their benefit.15° For example, in Bowles v. Department of Retirement Systems, the
court affirmed the grant of attorney fees to a few plaintiffs under the common fund
143 Id.See Broadaway, 133 Wn.2d at 368 (“[T]he legislative title is the relevant title
144
because it. is the title which appears on the proposed bill before [legislators].”).
. .
145 CR 11 (a)(2).
Harmony at Madrona Park Owners Ass’n v. Madison Harmony Dev., Inc.,
146
143 Wn. App. 345, 363, 177 P.3d 755 (2008).
147 CP at 1367.
148 CP at 1368.
149CityofSeguimv. Malkasian, 157 Wn.2d 251, 271, 138 P.3d 943 (2006).
150 Bowles v. Wash. Dep’t of Ret. Sys., 121 Wn.2d 52, 70-71, 847 P.2d 440(1993).
28
No. 79447-7-1/29
doctrine where they successfully sued to secure payment of additional monies into
their pension plan, thereby increasing payments to all plan members.151
Kunath insists he preserved a common fund: “$140 million of Seattle residents’
funds will be preserved . . . because without this action, that amount would have
been taken from them.”152 He especially emphasizes cases noting that a substantial
benefit to another is part of the common fund doctrine. But merely benefiting another
is not sufficient. The fact that Seattle residents do not have to pay the income tax
neither establishes nor preserves a common fund. Contrary to Kunath’s argument,
Bowles featured a single pension plan—a common fund—and did not require
aggregation of the funds needed to pay the award. Seattle should not be compelled
to “obtain reimbursement” from benefited taxpayers in order to collect and then
redistribute funds to Kunath.153 The court did not abuse its discretion by declining to
award attorney fees.154
CONCLUSION
Article VII, section 1 of our constitution, as interpreted by Culliton, considers
income to be intangible property, so a tax on income is a tax on property. Arguments
to the contrary can be resolved only by our Supreme Court.
151 121 Wn.2d 52, 57-61, 847 P.2d 440 (1993).
152 Kunath Resp’t’s Br. at 39.
153 Kunath Reply Br. at 7-8.
154 Kunath also requests sanctions on appeal under RAP 18.9. Other than a
single phrase on the last page of his response brief stating the court should impose
RAP 18.9 sanctions,” Kunath Resp’t’s Br. at 46, he fails to make any argument in favor
of sanctions or even specify the party to be sanctioned. We deny his request.
29
No. 79447-7-1/30
In this case, the legislature granted Seattle authority to tax intangible personal
property, including income, under either RCW 35.22.280(2) or ROW 35A.1 1.020.
RCW 36.65.030 prohibits any municipal levy of a net income tax. But the enacting
bill for ROW 36.65.030 violated the constitutional prohibition in article II, section 19 on
legislation with more than a single subject. Oonsequently, ROW 36.65.030 is
unconstitutional and no statutory prohibition limits Seattle’s authority to levy a
property tax on income.
Under the doctrine of stare decisis, we are bound by our Supreme Oourt’s
precedential decisions that a tax on income is a property tax and that a graduated
income tax violates the uniformity provision of article VII, section 1. Because Seattle
enacted a graduated tax on income, it is unconstitutional.
Based upon this alternative rationale, we affirm summary judgment in favor of
the tax opponents.
V.
WE OONOUR:
I
30