Government & Industry Affairs Issues 2010

The 2010 Washington State Legislative session is

scheduled to end Thursday, March 11, 2010.

BOMA and our alliance partners have been very actively involved

to prevent both House Bill 3191 and Senate Bill 6341  measures

from becoming law.

Rod Kauffman discussing the janitorial sales tax
 on the Dave Ross Show 3/2/10.mp3

Below are the fact sheets on these issues:

BOMA Fact Sheet:
Preserve the B&O Exemption for On-Site Property Management Salaries

Coalition Fact Sheet:
Preserve the B&O Exemption for On-Site Property Management Salaries

BOMA Fact Sheet:
Do not extend the sales tax to Janitorial Services

Commercial Real Estate’s Top Issues 2009:

1.    Economic Stimulus - Economic Development

2.    Job creation

3.    Fair and reasonable green house gas legislation that considers economic impact

4.    Fair, Equitable and Competitive Taxation and Regulation

5.    Continued improvement in transportation infrastructure, Capacity and Mobility

6.    State Constitutional amendment to allow tax increment financing 

About BOMA - Building Owners and Managers Association:

BOMA’s 450 member companies and employ over 20,000 individuals who either own or manage over 80 million square feet of commercial real estate in Washington State or provide goods and services to the commercial real estate industry.

BOMA member firms provide the workplaces for more than 350,000 Washington State workers.

BOMA communicates through our members to their tenants about those issues that create jobs, foster the strengthening of the economic and promote quality of life issues.

BOMA ‘s Message to lawmakers:

The Real Estate Industry in all its parts and affiliated businesses is a significant contributor to the economic revenue base of government and is responsible for more than 50% of local, county and state taxes.  When the commercial real estate industry prospers, so do revenues to local governments through our share of taxes.  Economic expansion and the prosperity of the real estate industry are vital to our state and local economies and communities.

We ask lawmakers to test their legislative actions by these two questions:

1.    What will the issues being considered do to promote the creation of jobs in Washington State?

2.    Could the issues under consideration have the consequence of costing jobs in Washington State?

BOMA feels that the citizens and voters of Washington State are best served by enacting legislation and regulation relief that stimulates the economy through job creation and economic growth.  Job creation increases the economy’s ability to meet the State’s revenue needs while enhancing the quality of life and prosperity and opportunity for all.

Economic Development – Business Climate

1.    Economic recovery, tax increment financing, creating jobs, keeping firms in Washington State, removing barriers to business competitiveness in Washington State

Infrastructure & Utilities

1.    Seattle Viaduct replacement that mitigates business disruption and captures a once in a lifetime opportunity to open Seattle’s waterfront.

2.    Transportation funding & accountability (congestion relief) [State Wide, Regional, and Local Measures]

3.    RTID/Sound Transit and regional transportation management

4.    Utility liens

5.    Electric utility reliability and transmission

6.    Electric utility generation capacity

7.    Utility rates, Electricity, water/sewer, gas, solid waste, recycling

Taxation

1.    Reasonable property taxes and avoiding split roll taxation

2.    Tax increment financing – gaining this economic development tool in Washington State

3.    No taxing of rents and leases

4.    Reasonable utility taxes

5.    Reasonable parking taxes

6.    Municipal Taxes/Fees (License Fees, B&O Tax Apportionment)

7.    B & O taxation and clarification that B & O tax should not be applied to on-site personnel reimbursable wages

Licensing

1.    Building engineers – repair & maintenance personnel – one license for Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Boilers

2.    HVAC mechanic licensing

3.    Real estate professionals

4.    Contractor registration

Regulation

1.    Building Codes, Fire Codes, Energy Codes

2.    Recycling

3.    Energy use mandates

4.    Land Use and Zoning, GMA

5.    Telecommunications (No Mandatory Access)

Growth Management

1.    Land supply, GMA - housing/commercial capacity

2.    Land Use and Zoning, GMA

3.    Smart Growth Legislation (OCD)

4.    Shoreline Guidelines (regulatory implementation, litigation by cities and by others, legislation)

5.    Housing Affordability/Availability

6.    Jobs-Housing Balance

7.    ESA

Federal Real Estate Issues 2009

Cap and Trade (Carbon tax)

15 Year Leasehold Depreciation          

Retaining Capital Gains at 15%

Brownfield Clean up Expensing

Energy Efficient tax credits

Carried Interest Taxation rates

Terrorism & Catastrophic Insurance

ADA & Accessibility regulations

International Building Codes

Telecommunications – forced access

Green Mandates

International Fire Codes                                  

Contact Rod Kauffman