B&O: It was a long story

At the June 16 Kent City Council meeting, Council President Dana Ralph, a Kent business owner, took time to recall the history of the city’s business and occupation (B&O) tax to those in attendance and those watching at home on TV.

Ms. Ralph repeatedly emphasized the fact that everything about the B&O tax implementation was done with full transparency and in the interests of the city’s business community and others. You and I are the others. We who don’t own or run a business in Kent. We weren’t in on the discussions or decisions, however.

Ms. Ralph was careful to note the dates when meetings were held and lists were made (submitted to the Chamber of Commerce for approval – we know that for sure). Terms and conditions and stuff like exceptions and loopholes were agreed upon between the council and the chamber with a little less than full transparency.

I am going to try to make the story a little shorter – and clearer: Kent is the third or fourth largest manufacturing area in the United States. Large trucks are everywhere on city roads and highways either receiving goods or distributing goods.

Our roads and streets are in such ghastly condition because of the damage done by these huge 16- and 18-wheelers owned by manufacturers and distributors. The financial responsibility for the repair and renovation of Kent’s streets and roads rests almost entirely on the business community – not on non-business owners who drive passenger cars.

The City Council has done everything it can (levies, LIDs and taxes) to transfer the cost of street/road repair to Kent citizens who don’t own these businesses that do all the hauling.

You don’t have to take my word for the situation: look around when you’re out walking or driving around Kent during night or day. What you see are huge, heavy trucks, trucks, trucks and more trucks. And the owners of those trucks/businesses want you and I to pay for road repairs.

I say no.

– Sandra Gill