Part 8/10:
The local government’s recent policies have intensified the affordability crisis. In January, the minimum wage in Seattle increased to $20.76 per hour—a notable climb that, while ostensibly designed to improve workers’ lives, may inadvertently contribute to higher business costs and inflationary pressures. Additionally, the state’s new tax increase, amounting to $9.2 billion—reportedly the largest in Washington history—has further loaded residents with taxes that fund government initiatives seen by many as unnecessary or overly liberal.