Douglas County is now the 7th county statewide to ban local income taxes.

Its commissioners have also joined neighboring Chelan and Grant counties in signing nearly identical resolutions calling for the ban.

All three counties have unanimously adopted the resolutions this month, which contain language suggesting local income taxes would harm businesses.

Twelve Washington cities, including Moses Lake, have a similar ban.

The county and city bans differ from a Washington Appeals Court decision in 2019 that allows for a flat 1 percent local income tax.

There is also a bill in the upcoming state legislature that would authorize local income taxes as long as other local taxes (sales, utility or property taxes) are reduced by an equal amount.

Douglas County adopted its resolution banning local income taxes Tuesday. It joins Benton, Chelan, Franklin , Grant , Spokane and Yakima counties as well as 12 Washington cities with local income tax bans including Battle Ground, DuPont, Granger, Kennewick, Longview, Moses Lake, Richland, Spokane, Spokane Valley, Union Gap, West Richland and Yakima.

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