Rep. Jacobsen warns data center tax change could hurt jobs
Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen, R-Puyallup, spoke in the House Finance Committee against Senate Bill 6231, which removes a tax exemption on equipment replacement for data centers.
Jacobsen said a data center in Puyallup has increased commercial occupancy rates, tax revenue, and jobs.
She also said the tax exemption, combined with Washington’s lack of an income tax and its abundance of clean hydroelectric power, helps make the state more economically competitive and attract businesses that might otherwise locate in Oregon.
“The problem here is we’re taking away the tax exemption for refurbishment,” said Jacobsen. “But every three to five years, the IT hardware has to get refurbished, and every 10 to 15 years the infrastructure has to get refurbished. When we do that refurbishing, we have to bring in union labor, and those jobs are good for the local economy.”
