OLYMPIA – This evening the House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by state Rep. Tina Orwall, (D-Des Moines) that will start creating much needed jobs in King County as soon as possible.
“Those of us living in King County have felt the devastation that results from the loss of 51,000 jobs in the construction industry during this recession,” said Orwall. “The people who lost all those jobs are hurting; they need employment urgently. This bill will bring significant relief to the county I call home.”
Orwall’s bill (HB 1997) gives King County the option to extend tourism-related taxes to create jobs and generate significant economic activity for the State of Washington by accelerating the expansion of the Washington State Convention Center, funding arts and cultural programs, and building housing for workers in the hospitality and service sectors.
The gains under this measure:
- 4,500 direct new construction jobs
- 3,000 new permanent jobs
- $1.4 billion of economic activity in the first 10 years of the convention center’s operations
- 130,000 additional visitors each year, which will result in $250 million in direct spending to King County’s economy.
The legislation will also continue funding for arts and cultural programs, which support 30,000 jobs in King County. Without this bill, their funding would cease in 2012.
“This is exactly what King County needs right now to prompt a faster recovery,” Orwall said. “It makes sense to invest in construction and infrastructure, support an environment where the arts and culture flourish and prosper, and develop the hospitality and service sectors to bring more tourists to Washington state.”
The revenue sources under Orwall’s bill are:
- The 2% hotel/motel tax
- The 0.5% sales tax collected at restaurants and bars (will expire in 2015)
- The 3% car rental taxes
HB 1997 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.