Snoqualmie loses suit on tribe payments, requests Dept. of Revenue reconsider

On Dec. 22, the Washington State Supreme Court sided with King County in the city of Snoqualmie’s complaint against the county regarding the constitutionality of a bill that gave tax exemptions to tribal properties not on reservation land.

In 2014, the Washington State legislature passed the Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1287 (ESHB 1287), which expanded the types of tribal property available for property tax exemption, including off-reservation land used for economic development. In exchange for the tax exemption, the property owners make a Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILT) to the county, which then redistributes some of the funds to the city in which the property is located.

http://www.valleyrecord.com/news/snoqualmie-loses-suit-on-tribe-payments-requests-dept-of-revenue-reconsider/