Taxes & Cost of Living

Democrat legislative leaders Push for New Income and Wealth Taxes as Businesses Close and Washington’s Competitiveness Plummets

Just months after passing the largest tax increase in state history — a $12.5 billion package — Democrat leaders in Olympia are already looking for new ways to take more. Now they’re floating two new tax proposals a 9.9% income tax and a statewide wealth tax targeting assets like stocks, investments, and property holdings. They...

Big Wins for Accountability, Improved Government Efficiency & Transparency in Whatcom County

When we shared our comprehensive voters guide to the 12 Charter amendments in October, our goal was to make it easier to understand what was on your ballot and why these once-a-decade proposals matter. Thanks to strong voter engagement, Whatcom County saw clear and encouraging results. Every one of the seven amendments we took a position on...

Snohomish County Delivered: 60+ New Leaders Elected & $1,000 Tax Hike Defeated!

2025 SNOHOMISH COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS Future 42 Snohomish County, in conjunction with League of Our Own WA, recruited and/or trained 90+ male and female candidates for local office in Snohomish County this year. If current results hold, at least 60 of those candidates will have won their General Election race. A recap is below. In the...

Whatcom County plans to raise your taxes TONIGHT (Nov. 5) — speak out now!

What’s Happening The Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing tonight (Wednesday) to authorize a series of property tax increases for collection in 2026. Date: Wednesday, November 5, 6 pm Location: Whatcom County Chambers, 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham (Hybrid- in person and virtual) Agenda link: View on Legistar Most taxes (below) are proposed to increase by 1 percent, which...

Your ballot’s here—make your voice count by Nov 4!

Washington voters are making their voices heard in the 2025 local elections. By now, you should have received your ballot in the mail — and this one matters more than most. Local elections decide the policies that hit closest to home: 🏡 Your property taxes — and whether they keep rising faster than your paycheck. 🚸...

Why Washington Climbed to the Top of the Nation’s Gas Price Charts

Washington families already face some of the highest costs of living in the country. Groceries, housing, and utilities all seem to rise month after month. One of the most visible and painful examples of government policy hitting home is staring us in the face every time we pull up to a gas pump, and earlier...

Statewide Poll: Washingtonians Say Enough is Enough on Taxes, Homelessness, and Out-of-Touch Policies

A new statewide survey makes one thing crystal clear: Washingtonians feel like they’re being squeezed harder than ever by Olympia’s tax-and-spend machine, and they’re ready for change. Families across the state are struggling to keep up, and voters overwhelmingly believe government policies are holding them back instead of helping them get ahead. TAXES From the...

What You Can Do: Stop Judges From Rewriting Our Laws

Across the state activist judges are going far beyond their legal authority to impose their own agendas. Whether it’s blocking the repeal of the new natural gas ban, shielding illegal school strikes, or cutting criminals loose without bail—time and again, judges are making political decisions and circumventing the will of the people and putting our communities at risk. That’s why we...

Edmonds City Council to Vote on Raising Sales Tax to Highest Rate in the State

At their public meeting this Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00pm, the Edmonds City Council will be holding a vote on a proposal to increase the city’s sales tax rate for “cultural access” to the arts. This will be the second sales tax hike which the Edmonds City Council has considered in just a three-week period. At...

Strikes in Evergreen and La Center Keep Schools Closed as State Lawmakers Make Strikes Easier

For thousands of families in Clark County, the school year hasn’t even started. Students in Evergreen Public Schools (one of the largest districts in the state) are entering their second week without classes due to a strike by classified staff, while nearby La Center School District has also been shut down by a walkout. Instead...

Edmonds City Council to Consider Several Massive Tax Increase Proposals

When Edmonds voters were asked by city leaders to approve a property tax increase of approximately $1,000 per household to be annexed into the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) earlier this year, they were not told the full story. Shortly after voters approved this massive property tax increase, the City of Edmonds is moving forward with...

Ferguson Gives Florida Company the Ferry Contract Over Washington Boatbuilder —Thanks to the Costs of Our Lawmakers’ Anti-Business Policies

Washington’s ferry system is struggling. With chronic staffing shortages, aging vessels, and service disruptions now commonplace, state officials are under increasing pressure to deliver real solutions. But instead of investing in Washington workers and companies, Governor Bob Ferguson has awarded a $714.5 million contract for three new hybrid-electric ferries to a Florida-based shipbuilder. The contract...

Discovery Institute: Time for Washington to Take a Lesson from Mississippi

Though one could point to many areas in which Mississippi has struggled in the past, the state is clearly now on a roll. Washingtonians would be wise to compare what they are doing versus what our state is doing. Here are just a few immediately identifiable differences in trends between the two states in two...

2025 Snohomish County State Legislative Scorecard

Future 42 is releasing a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive scorecard highlighting key votes taken by the 24 legislators representing areas of Snohomish County during the 2025 legislative session. This information is critical in order to ensure that county residents are informed on bills which were passed, how those bills will impact their lives, and who voted for/against...