Taxable retail sales up locally in 1st quarter
Posted on 09. Jul, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Overall taxable retail sales in Whatcom County rose 1.2 percent to $634.7 million during the first quarter of 2010, according to a new report by the Department of Revenue.
This defied the statewide trend, which shows taxable retail sales dropping 2.9 percent to $22.6 billion.
Retailers statewide saw a small boost in sales, though, [...]
Climate plan could boost state economy by billions
Posted on 08. Jul, 2010 by ryanwynne in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
An independent economic analysis indicates that Washington’s economy would grow by $3.3 billion and add 19,300 jobs if a regional plan to mitigate climate change and build a clean-energy economy goes into effect as designed starting in 2012.
“Here in Washington, we are already reaping the rewards of the early actions we have [...]
B.C. tax exemption hearing moved back
Posted on 08. Jul, 2010 by ryanwynne in News
By Ryan Wynne
The Department of Revenue (DOR) will have to wait a bit longer before advising Washington retailers that British Columbia residents can buy goods in Washington without paying sales tax.
A restraining order barring the department from sharing that opinion with retailers will remain in place for an extra week.
The order is part of a [...]
Judge issues restraining order against B.C. tax exemption
Posted on 01. Jul, 2010 by ryanwynne in News
Retailers offering exemption may end up paying lost taxes
The Bellingham Business Journal
A Skagit County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order June 30 barring the Department of Revenue (DOR) from advising Washington retailers that British Columbia residents will be able to buy goods in Washington without paying sales tax beginning July 1.
Judge Susan Cook [...]
B.C. tax exemption could mean big losses for city, county
Posted on 29. Jun, 2010 by ryanwynne in News
By Ryan Wynne
On June 8, Whatcom County governments received some shocking news that seemed to come out of nowhere. They were told, in the form of a press release by the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), that British Columbia and Ontario residents would become eligible for non-resident sales tax exemption on July 1. That’s [...]
Demand for state financial aid outstrips supply
Posted on 23. Jun, 2010 by ryanwynne in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
State financial aid programs, which help fill the gap between family income and college costs, were stretched to the maximum this year, and many students who qualified for aid did not receive it, according to preliminary data compiled by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board.
It is estimated the number of Washingtonians who [...]
Increase in wages brings small bump in jobless benefits
Posted on 17. Jun, 2010 by ryanwynne in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The loss of thousands of low-paying jobs helped to increase the average wage in Washington in 2009, according to the Employment Security Department. Statistics for individual economic regions are not yet available.
The 1.9 percent increase drove the average annual wage in the state up to $47,153, the smallest increase since 2004. The [...]
State unemployment drops, but rises locally
Posted on 16. Jun, 2010 by Isaac Bonnell in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
Washington’s unemployment rate fell to 9.1 percent in May, the lowest level since the same month a year ago. In Whatcom County, though, the unemployment rate rose slightly from 8.1 percent to 8.2 percent.
The state economy also picked up an estimated 8,600 jobs in May, the bulk of which were federal Census [...]
State defines tax rules regarding B.C. customers
Posted on 11. Jun, 2010 by ryanwynne in News
The Bellingham Business Journal
The Department of Revenue has posted instructions on its website for retailers who may be selling goods tax-free to British Columbia residents beginning July 1.
British Columbia residents will become eligible for the tax break because the province is shifting from a Provincial Sales Tax to a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on July [...]
Local, state agencies educate businesses on pollution risks
Posted on 24. May, 2010 by Lance Henderson in Tips
When toxic chemicals get into the water, it’s never a good thing. From the April diesel fuel spill in Squalicum Marina to the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, accidents happen and businesses need to be educated on their role in water pollution.
