Newsletter April 1, 2021
IN THIS ISSUE

  • House, Senate introduce state budget documents
  • New round of business financial aid is available
  • Action on fiscal bills due tomorrow
  • Businesses get extension for PPP loans
  • Discover a new COVID workplace safety training platform accessible anytime anywhere
  • Small business owners more optimistic about the economy
  • The Easter spending forecast is healthy
  • Learn all about our small business partners at SpotOn
  • For timid bar goers, bar-scented candles
  • You need to show these 11 posters at work
House, Senate introduce state budget documents

The state House and Senate have introduced separate versions of a new state budget that both include a controversial capital gains tax proposal and enough spending to significantly reduce the state savings account.

Both houses must pass their budget versions and then agree on a compromise document by a scheduled April 25 adjournment before passing it on to Governor Inslee for approval or possible vetoes. The proposals are House bill 1094 and Senate bill 5092.

Both documents approach $60 billion in spending. They include a proposed 7% tax on capital gains over $250,000, which has been opposed by Republican minorities in the Legislature. The tax is intended to fund a tax credit for low-income families as well as childcare.

If approved, a court challenge to the capital gains tax as an unconstitutional income tax is expected. Such a tax would be attached to the sale of personal assets including businesses.

State revenues have been coming in above expectations. Washington Retail opposes a host of proposed new taxes under consideration by the Legislature including the capital gains tax and has urged state lawmakers to instead demonstrate better management of existing revenues. WR expects the capital gains tax to narrowly win Legislature approval and be signed into law by the Governor.

New round of business financial aid is available

Businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to apply by April 9 for a fourth round of financial aid grants.

State legislators have approved $240 million in the current round of financial assistance. Recipients must apply grant awards toward expenses incurred between March 1 through June 30 of last year. Applicants are potentially eligible for a grant of up to $25,000.

The Working Washington grant relief is for small for-profit businesses, especially those that were required to close due to public health and safety measures.

Priorities for the funding include:

  • Businesses required to close
  • Businesses with lost revenue as a result of closure
  • Businesses with added expenses to maintain safe operations
  • Equitable distribution of funds across the state and to businesses owned and operated by historically disadvantaged applicants.

Learn more and apply here.

Source: Department of Commerce
Action on fiscal bills due tomorrow
 
Legislature committees working on fiscal matters must take final votes by Friday of this week now that the 2021 session is more than three-fourths complete.
 
Adjournment for the 105-day session is scheduled for April 25.
 
Washington Retail continues to monitor key retail-related bills as the Legislature begins its final stretch of meetings. WR opposes several proposed new taxes because state revenues are recovering from the pandemic and are coming in at amounts above expectations. Please note that legislative actions can be spontaneous and difficult to anticipate. Therefore, this account was accurate at the time of writing.
 
Among the bills WR is monitoring are:
 
  • Senate bill 5062, Washington Privacy Act. It would determine online security responsibilities for retailers and information processors regarding personal consumer information. Washington Retail opposes the bill as it came out of the Civil Rights and Judiciary as it now contains a private right of action. The bill is now before the House Appropriations Committee with a $4 million fiscal note for Attorney General Enforcement.
  • SB 5096, capital gains tax. The bill narrowly passed the Senate and is in the House for further consideration. Washington Retail opposes the bill that would tax the sale of personal assets that would include businesses. WR expects the bill to be signed into law and challenged in court as an unconstitutional income tax.
  • House bill 1539, bad debt sales tax credit. The bill WR opposes would eliminate the sales tax credit retailers now take when a customer defaults on paying when they make a purchase on credit. The state Supreme Court ruled in favor of keeping this credit in place. The Department of Revenue is wrongfully trying to overturn this ruling.
  • HB 1303 would impose a business and occupation tax on the sale of personal data. WR opposes the bill.
  • SB 5355 would enable liens on property during complaints of alleged wage violations by businesses. WR opposes the bill.
  • WR supports SB 5203 that authorizes the Health Care Authority to enter into partnerships with other states to purchase generic prescription drugs.
 
WR will continue weekly updates on key bills until adjournment. Then, in the weeks following adjournment, WR will present members with a much more comprehensive summary of the outcome of all the bills WR has monitored during the session.
Businesses get extension for PPP loans

Businesses who need help covering payroll costs during the COVID-19 pandemic have an additional 60 days, until May 31, to file a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application under a bill President Joe Biden signed into law this week.

The application period was set to close Wednesday of this week. The PPP program is designed to help struggling businesses with 500 or fewer employees to keep workers employed during the pandemic emergency with loans that are forgivable if certain criteria are met. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) oversees the program.

Read more about this here. SBA information about the program is here.
Discover a new COVID workplace safety training platform accessible anytime anywhere
 
Employer ALERT – Now that the state is beginning to open up with higher occupancy, join one of our April webinars to acquire a free tool to train new employees and keep your current employees vigilant about COVID safety best practices.  
 
Target attendees – employers, safety coordinators, new employees or those that could use a refresher course.
 
4/7 – 10:00 A.M. 45 minutes in English presented by Rick Means, Retail Services Director of Safety and Education 
 
4/15 – 12:00 Noon 45 minutes in Español presented by Marcos Wanless, President and Founder, Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
 
4/28 - 10:00 A.M. 45 minutes in English presented by Rick Means, Retail Services Director of Safety and Education
 
4/29 - 6:00 P.M. 45 minutes in Español presented by Marcos Wanless, President and Founder, Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
 
Select a date above to register soon!
Small business owners more optimistic about the economy

About half of small business owners in Washington State say their operations during the pandemic either have returned to normal or will in the next six months, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey conducted two weeks ago.

The bureau reported the optimism level from last month was at the highest level it has been since May of last year. A total of 50.4% of Washington small business operators responded that business was normal or expected to recover within six months.

The results were a little better nationally with about 52% reporting normal sales or the expectation of recovery within six months. The results were reported earlier this week in The Seattle Times.

The paper also reported the glass-half-empty side of the survey; that almost half of the state’s small businesses don’t see economic conditions improving much in the future, or their business has already closed.

Data for the survey comes from the bureau’s Small Business Pulse Survey that started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from it are released weekly.

Source: Seattle Times
The Easter spending forecast is healthy

Consumers say they will spend an average $179.70 this Easter, the highest figure on record, the National Retail Federation reports. An estimated 79% of Americans will spend $21.6 billion for the holiday, down slightly from last year’s pre-pandemic forecast of $21.7 billion.

The 8,111 consumers surveyed between March 1 and 8 said they would mark the holiday by cooking a holiday meal (59%), visiting with family and friends (43%), watching TV (43%), planning an Easter egg hunt (31%) or attending church (28%).

Anticipated expenses are $31.06 on gifts; $52.50 on food and $25.22 on candy, all up slightly from last year.

While the pandemic continues some said they would rather not gather in person. Twenty-two percent said they would attend church virtually and 24% said they would connect with their loved ones by phone or video. The survey has a 1.1% margin of error.
Learn all about our small business partners at SpotOn

Our partnership with SpotOn allows small business owners to learn about the company’s line of office equipment that can enhance business.

For example, the SpotOn sales terminal allows customers to offer contactless sales, build customer loyalty and review analytics of sales and customers.

For more information about the company’s full range of small business services, visit its website at https://www.spoton.com/products/terminal/. The site includes video clips that summarize the company’s equipment and services.

For further information or to arrange a demonstration, contact our SpotOn partner Patrick Wiltsey, Director of Business Development, at 303-835-3217 or pwiltsey@spoton.com.
For timid bar goers, bar-scented candles

Were it not for the pandemic, would we have had bar-scented candles available for purchase?

For some patrons wary of meeting strangers inside a bar during the pandemic, the idea of being in their favorite watering hole probably feels a little nostalgic.

So Miller Lite recently released a limited line of scented candles that quickly sold out. They were called Dive Bar featuring musk, tobacco, pine and yeast scents; Game Day Bar featuring salted peanut, jalapeno and cracked leather scents; and Beer Garden featuring green moss, warm pretzel, cracked wood and “sunburn” scents. Could sunburn include the smell of Coppertone?

For the relatively few owners of bar-scented candles, they were able to strike a match and create a virtual environment while savoring their favorite brew. Sales proceeds reportedly went to bartenders through the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild Foundation.

Source: Retail Dive
You need to show these 11 posters at work

The State of Washington requires companies to have the following 11 posters available for employees to view at work. Please check what you have up now, noting the lower left/right corners to see what date they were published.

If they don’t match the current dates noted here, please print a new one and post it to remain in compliance. You can print a poster from the linked titles below. Otherwise, you can order them at no charge from the issuing agency.

Revision Date - Title with Link

Some cities such as Seattle and SeaTac have additional requirements.

A check for employee posters is on the list when Labor & Industries’ compliance officers visit your business. They also typically want to see your safety meeting logbook, Accident Prevention Program and Safety Data Sheets (for companies that work with chemicals).

WR employs Rick Means as Director of Safety and Education who is available to help members write safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198, Ext. 118 or rmeans@waretailservices.com.
WR diversity statement

WR is committed to the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. We strive to create a safe, welcoming environment in which these principles can thrive.

We value all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, identity, sexual orientation, nationality or disability and that is the foundation of our commitment to those we serve. 
Washington Retail Staff
Renée Sunde
President/CEO
360.200.6450
Rose Gundersen
VP of Operations & Retail Services
360.200.6452
Mark Johnson
Senior VP of Policy,
Government Affairs
360.943.0667
Jim Szymanski
Director of Communications
360.753.8742