Congratulations to Ideal Dentistry on the ribbon cutting and grand opening of their new state-of-the-art office. Check out the beautiful new dental clinic at 1663 Fowler St. in Richland.

Congratulations to The Falls on 24th on their ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration on Thursday, May 29! You can tour the modern residential units at 4112 W. 24th Ave. in Kennewick.

In this two-part series, we cover what Washington State Unemployment Insurance works and how it is collected. In the second part of the series, we discuss how UI rates are calculated.
 
Unemployment Insurance (UI) in Washington State is a program that provides temporary financial assistance to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The program is funded by taxes paid by employers, and the system is designed to ensure the stability of both workers and businesses.
 
How UI is Collected
UI in Washington is funded by employer-paid taxes. Employers contribute based on their payroll and their "experience rating," which reflects their history of laying off workers.
 
1.  Experience Rating:

• Employers with higher layoffs pay higher UI tax rates. This incentivizes businesses to maintain their workforce stability.
• The rating is calculated based on the benefits paid to former employees relative to the taxable payroll over a certain period (typically three years).

 2.  Taxable Wage Base:

• Only wages up to a certain limit ( taxable wage base) are subject to UI taxes. For 2024, the taxable wage base in Washington State is $76,500.

 3.  Tax Rates:

• UI tax rates vary by employer and include two primary components.
  • Experience-Rated Tax: Determined by the employer's layoff history.
  • Social Cost Tax: Covers the costs of benefits not attributed to specific employers (e.g., bankrupt businesses, non-chargeable benefits).

 
The Two Parts of the Fund
The Washington State UI system involves two key funds.
 
1.  Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund:

• Pays out regular UI benefits for eligible unemployed workers.
• Funded entirely by employer taxes under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) and state-specific taxes.
• Employers pay the state UI taxes, and the state administers the fund to provide benefits.

 
2.  Solvency or Supplemental Fund:

• Acts as a buffer to ensure that the program remains solvent during periods of high unemployment.
• Typically, it is funded through additional employer contributions.
• Ensures that benefits can be paid even during economic downturns or times of increased claims.

 
Who Pays Each Portion?
1.  Employers:

• Employers pay all state UI taxes, including experience-rated and social cost components.
• Employers also pay a federal UI tax (FUTA) of 6% on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages, although they often receive a credit that reduces this rate to 0.6% if state obligations are met.

 
2.  Employees:

• In most states, the UI is entirely funded by employers. However, a few states allow employee contributions, and Washington State is not one of them. Workers in Washington do not directly pay into the UI fund.

Summary

Employers are solely responsible for funding Washington State's UI program, which consists of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for benefits, and a Supplemental Fund for solvency. The system's design balances individual employer contributions with shared costs to cover broader economic risks, ensuring the program supports workers while maintaining fairness for businesses.

Stay tuned for part two. "​Breaking Down Washington’s Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Experience-Rated vs. Social Cost"

​Property taxes are one of the main ways communities in Washington State pay for public services. These taxes help fund schools, police, fire departments, roads, libraries, etc. Understanding how property taxes are calculated and where money goes can help one see how tax dollars are used.
 
In Washington, property taxes are based on the value of one’s home or land. Each year, the county assessor estimates how much your property is worth. This is called an assessed value. Once this value is set, it is multiplied by the tax rate to determine how much you owe.
 
The tax rate comprises several smaller parts. These come from different local governments and services, such as cities, counties, school districts, and fire districts. Each of these groups, called taxing districts, determines how much money it needs to operate. The total amount of money that all these districts want to collect is divided by the value of all properties in the area. This is how the total tax rate is determined.
 
Most of your property tax—about 80 to 85 percent—goes to local taxing districts. This money pays for public schools (local levies), fire protection, parks, and city and county services. The remaining 15 to 20 percent of your tax goes to the state government, mainly to fund K-12 public education.
 
The state collects a uniform tax across all counties, which is called the state school levy. Currently, it is approximately $2.70 per $1,000 of the assessed value, although it can change. This means that if your home is worth $300,000, about $810 of your property taxes goes to the state for public schools.
 
In summary, property taxes in Washington are based on the value of property and the needs of local and state services. Most of what you pay remains in your community, helping to keep schools running, roads repaired, and emergency services available. A smaller portion goes to the state to help fund education across Washington.

Here is a short video provided by Washington State that addresses property taxes

Congratulations to Atomic Escape Rooms on the ribbon cutting and grand opening for their new Rock Lake Island expansion! Check out their space at 1333 Tapteal Dr., Ste. 102 in Richland - but be careful, you might run into Bigfoot!

On May 15, Governor Bob Ferguson visited the Tri-Cities for a special bill signing ceremony, recognizing the work of local legislators during the 2025 Washington State legislative session. Held in the heart of the Tri-Cities region, the event celebrated the successful passage of bills championed by Eastern Washington lawmakers. At the ceremony, Governor Ferguson signed 11 bills into law, highlighting the impact of regional leadership on statewide policies.

The bills signed in the Tri-Cities covered a range of topics, from agriculture and infrastructure to workforce development and education. While most legislation is typically signed in Olympia, this visit underscores the importance of bringing government closer to the communities it serves. It also offered local residents a chance to witness firsthand how their elected officials are shaping laws that directly affect their region.

In total, Tri-City legislators successfully passed 18 bills into law during the 2025 session. This legislative achievement reflects the growing influence of Eastern Washington voices in Olympia and the commitment of local lawmakers to address regional needs. The remaining bills were signed earlier this year at ceremonies held at the state capitol, continuing the longstanding tradition of recognizing the legislative process at the seat of government.

This event not only highlighted the accomplishments of local lawmakers, but also emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration in achieving meaningful results. The governor’s decision to hold a bill signing ceremony in the Tri-Cities sends a clear message: the voices of Eastern Washington are being heard, and their ideas are making a difference across the state.
Tri-Cities can take pride in the active role their delegation plays in shaping state policy. These successes established a strong foundation for future advocacy efforts and legislative progress in the region.

Congratulations to Columbia Basin College on the groundbreaking ceremony for their next student dormitory. The complex will be located at 20th Ave. and Argent, near the northeast corner of campus. Learn more about the project in this article from the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

Congratulations to Personna Employment Solutions on their ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 15! Visit their new Pasco location at 2211 W. Court St.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce has joined a broad coalition of business organizations urging Congress to preserve the federal deduction for state and local business taxes, commonly referred to as the B-SALT deduction. The Chamber is advocating for local businesses, emphasizing that changes to this long-standing tax provision could lead to substantial financial burdens for employers throughout the Tri-Cities and beyond.

The B-SALT deduction allows companies to deduct mandatory state and local taxes as part of their ordinary business expenses. However, recent proposals in Congress suggest placing caps on or eliminating this deduction entirely. If enacted, these changes could generate more than $600 billion in additional taxes over the next decade, affecting a wide range of business entities, including sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations, and commercial property owners.

In partnership with other regional and national business groups, the chamber highlighted that deduction has been a critical component of the federal tax code for decades. This helps ensure that businesses are not taxed twice on the same income and supports broader goals of economic stability and growth.

The coalition's message to lawmakers is clear: eliminating the B-SALT deduction would roll back important progress made through the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which contributed to wage increases, job creation, and expanded investment in local communities. Maintaining deductions is vital for preserving a fair and competitive tax environment that supports economic development and small business sustainability.
​
The Tri-City Regional Chamber will continue advocating on behalf of its members to protect policies that promote business growth and reduce unnecessary tax burdens.

You can review the letter the Chamber sent here.