30+ Clark County Small Businesses Urge Legislature to Reject State Income Tax
Today, 30+ local businesses in Clark County sent a joint letter to the Washington State Legislature expressing their concerns regarding the proposed state income tax, SB 6346. The letter urges the Legislature to reject the income tax in order to avoid negative impacts on Washington’s economy.
March 9, 2026
To the Honorable Members of the Washington State Legislature,
We write to you today as a group of small business owners in Clark County who are dedicated to fostering economic growth and supporting our local communities through job creation and innovation. As you consider the bill to create a state income tax/SB 6346, we felt it was important that we communicate our deep concerns regarding the proposed income tax. While presented as a “millionaires’ tax, this measure would disproportionately harm small businesses, S-corps, and LLCs. It also threatens the vitality of Washington’s economy.
For many small business owners, income from operations passes directly through to our personal tax returns. This means SB 6346 would effectively impose a steep new tax on business earnings, even when those funds are reinvested in growth, equipment, or employee wages rather than taken as personal profit. In Clark County, where industries like manufacturing, retail, and services rely on slim margins, this additional 9.9% burden—among the highest tax rates in the nation—could force us to cut jobs, reduce hours, or delay expansions. S-corps and LLCs, which represent over 85% of small businesses in our state, would be hit hardest, as the $1 million threshold fails to account for the realities of business cash flow and reinvestment needs.
This tax risks driving businesses out of Washington to more competitive states, exacerbating talent shortages and stagnating growth in our region. Instead of supporting entrepreneurship, SB 6346 could stifle innovation and deter new ventures, ultimately harming the workers and families we employ. We urge you to oppose this bill and prioritize policies that bolster small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Thank you for considering our perspective. We appreciate your service to our community.
Sincerely,
Adams Street Bar and Grill
Affinity Homes LLC
Al and Ernies
Battle Ground Farmer’s Market
Battle Ground Hospitality Collective
Broughton Bishop
Camas Cellars
Cruise the Couve
Cydat Industries LLC
Dick Hannah Dealership
Doriot Construction
Galeotti’s Wine Cellar
Glen Kincaid Construction Inc
Global Security and Communication
Gleek LLC
Gunderson Associated Tire Centers, Inc. / Les Schwab
Lacamas Financial Group
Maddox Industrial Transformer
Northwest Precision Tool
Opsahl Dawson
Prairie View Station
Stewart Plumbing
Tapani Inc
The Schlotfeldt Law Firm, PLLC
Thompson Metal Fab
Total Insurance by George
Trapdoor Brewing
Tukes Taphouse
Uptown Pub
Vancouver Granite Works
Vesta Hospitality LLC
Washougal Pub
Williams and Sons Jewelry
Wolf Industries