"The increase is needed to ensure the Contractor Registration program remains consistent with fee increases required by statute and to help improve the program’s fund balance."

That's the justification from Labor and Industries in WA state (L&I) for proposing a 5.79 percent increase in the cost for contractors to license their business in 2022.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD JANUARY 26th ON THIS PROPOSAL

The current fee, which is good for two years, is $117.90.  If the proposal is enacted it would raise the cost by roughly $6.80. That's not enormous, but given the current economic climate, and what's happened since the onset of COVID, this will be even less well-received by builders even just on principle.

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The hearing will take place on January 26th at 9 AM in Olympia. L&I is required to charge the fee every two years for contractors, and also revise it every two years "in recognition of economic changes reflected by the fiscal growth factor" via the Revised Code of Washington.

Given that a number of sources say the state is actually experiencing far better income and revenue projections, and even after using some of the rainy day emergency fund will still have quite a bit left, one wonders why this cost could not be offset?

The hearing will, again, be 9 AM on January 26th. A link to watch-attend the meeting digitally can be found below. Click on the button. If adopted they would go into effect April 22nd, 2022.

 

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