Here at the Chamber, we’re dedicated to bringing your voice into the room with our government partners on key issues and decisions.

For example, we participated in successful Seattle Public Schools, Sound Transit, Seattle Department of Transportation, and Seattle Police Department leadership searches over the past few months, working to drive progress in key agencies.

Additionally, I am representing employers on the state’s Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission, taking part in the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development work to convene private sector leaders, and participating in a Brookings Learning Exchange focused on revitalizing downtowns.

And just a few weeks ago, I accepted an invitation from Mayor Bruce Harrell to join the City of Seattle Revenue Stabilization Workgroup to identify, discuss the merits of, and potentially recommend equitable financial approaches to the City of Seattle’s budget issues.

The city will be seeking recommendations as to whether new progressive revenues should offset (in whole or in part) existing regressive revenues, among other things. This work group will be provided information about the city’s spending needs and trends, and group members will offer our observations about how to shore up the city’s finances.

To be clear – we come to this table knowing what the voters want to see on the issues they care about. Voters want to see a plan, prioritization, and progress. Voters want our government partners to be responsible stewards and to get value out of the tax dollars they contribute. Taxes are not inherently good or inherently bad – it is how they are used to make our community better that matters.

In the most recent installation of The Index in March 2022, we asked 700 Seattle voters questions about the city budget, which at the time faced a projected $150 million deficit. Two out of three Seattle voters said the city should take a prioritization approach before considering tax increases.

I’ve said before, and will continue to say: We do ourselves a disservice when we let budget conversations devolve into who is pro-tax and who is anti-tax. The Seattle Metro Chamber has supported many tax proposals. We’ve also fought others – particularly when there is no plan. Participating at this table is not a guarantee of either outcome. I also believe it is too important to sit this conversation out – the city’s budget matters to all of us and we need to be at the table.

My years of experience working on municipal budgets gives me a particular perspective. Budgets are a clear statement of how our elected leaders plan to drive outcomes and should prioritize progress on pressing challenges like affordability, public safety and homelessness. Budgeting is not doing the same things you have always done, at the same levels, and then adding to it. Budgeting is responding to what’s happening in our community now. While the basic functions of garbage and roads don’t change, our priorities do change.

Our lives do not improve simply because government is collecting more taxes. Lives improve because we prioritize spending the revenue to get better outcomes: reasonable emergency response times, services and emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness, housing that is affordable across the income spectrum, well-maintained parks, and reliable transit. There are also policy decisions that are crucial to these outcomes, like building more housing, which should not be solved by public financial investment alone. The planning, policy, and prioritization are as important as the revenue.

At the Chamber, we discern which groups to join and which committees and task forces to serve on to best represent you, our members. In consultation with our Executive Committee, we’ve decided to join the Revenue Stabilization Workgroup because:

  • The business community pays over 60% of the taxes that make up the city’s general fund, so we need to be at the table.
  • It’s easy for budgeting to be an afterthought and joining this group will bring daylight to the process.
  • We’re good at this! The business community has a lot to offer in terms of making finances work to achieve outcomes – you all do it every day in your businesses.

Because we are an organization that convenes partners around the table to solve big challenges, we accepted this invitation that was offered with good intentions and without pre-determined outcomes.

We will update you in the coming months on outcomes and recommendations from this work group. And, as always, the Chamber will continue to be your champion.

With determination,

Rachel

Rachel Smith

President & CEO

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce