The Luke Burbank Show - 10am on KIRO Radio
 Luke Burbank
Tune in
Tune in to KIRO Radio weekdays at 10am for The Luke Burbank Show.


Taxing opportunities to dance: We don't want Seattle to turn into 'Footloose' town

BY Jamie Skorheim  on February 19, 2013 @ 12:24 pm (Updated: 2:23 pm - 2/19/13 )

pitp-footloose-121.jpg
KIRO Radio host Luke Burbank doesn't want to see Seattle turn into the town in Footloose, that didn't allow dancing. (Image courtesy Paramount Pictures)
Giving patrons the opportunity to dance, and not paying a tax on it, is getting a number of Washington state businesses in trouble with the Department of Revenue.

Seattle's Century Ballroom, on Capitol Hill, may have to close its doors if it can't come up with $90,000 in back taxes the state says it owes for an "opportunity to dance" tax.

Steven Severin, the owner of Neumos, a music venue on Capitol Hill, tells KIRO Radio's Luke Burbank they're still unsure whether folks dancing at live music shows at their venue means they're responsible for the tax.

"We don't know," says Severin. "Going forward we're a little worried to find out. Just because of what has already happened at live music venues where they've been hit with this tax."

Severin has been running clubs in Seattle for 15 years and says he'd never heard of this tax until a couple places were hit with big dollar figures the state said they owed.

For those businesses that are being held accountable to pay on the opportunity to dance tax, the costs are significant. It was determined the Century Ballroom owed $250,000 in back taxes. The state and the club settled on taking it down to $90,000, but the Century Ballroom is still on the hook for that amount.

"It's far too much for them to come up with," says Severin.

The Century Ballroom so far has raised $7,000 and is hosting a fundraiser this Saturday.

The Department of Revenue says businesses are responsible to know those taxes that they are responsible for.

But Severin says this is the first time he and other business owners he knows have heard of it, after years and years of dealings with the DOR.

"We don't know exactly why it kicked in," says Severin. "I think that's why Senator Ed Murray stepped in and said, hey this is a little ridiculous, the nightlife is a huge contributor about why people move to Seattle, let's not try and work on putting these places out of business, which is essentially what it could do if they got their way."

Senator Ed Murray has proposed SB 5613 to eliminate the opportunity to dance tax which he tells Q13 is hitting nightlife businesses unfairly.

Severin is asking people who frequent businesses they enjoy that may offer what would qualify as an "opportunity to dance" to contact their senator before the bill's hearing on Thursday.

"What you need to do is you need to email your senator and tell them that you want them to approve the dance tax bill - very key, by tomorrow, Thursday at noon," says Severin.

"The list of clubs affected by it is pretty much all the clubs I go to," says host Luke Burbank. "We don't want this to turn into 'Footloose' town you guys."

You might also be interested in:

Obscure tax could force Capitol Hill club to close its doors

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
More Luke Burbank

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (23)


  • Add A Comment

  • Zoeller wrote...
    Really Luke? And maybe (Jamie-Not sure of your political persuasion?)
    February 19, 2013 12:28 pm
    "We don't want Seattle to turn into Footloose town" Every time you and your ilk vote for the Democratic ticket down the line you are voting for more and more of this nanny state tax and spend, tax and regulate, tax and destroy. (You are only getting exactly what you keep voting for.) Dumb A $$
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    (Jamie-Not sure of your political persuasion?)
    February 19, 2013 1:58 pm
    trying to make a move on her?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    if only he had a sword.
    February 19, 2013 4:23 pm
    Then maybe he would stand a chance.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    jstumbo
    February 19, 2013 6:08 pm
    I don't know if he has a "sword", but he does have a point. It's amazing to see democrats continually vote for more oppression and then complain about it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    This tax is B.S. but
    February 19, 2013 4:23 pm
    I agree, if you vote straight democrat all the time this is your fault... If the DOR let this slide for so long leads me to believe they did not know this was on the books either and the clubs should not be on the hook for one penny. You can't just let this go for so long and then BAM you owe us $250,000.00.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Yep,
    February 19, 2013 5:36 pm
    Nice job hipster liberals. You people are too stupid to even realize that the hope & change morons you keep voting into office will continue to do everything and ANYTHING to extract as much tax money from you as possible....this is eF ing Hilarious!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Booger Barnes wrote...
    Right
    February 21, 2013 2:39 pm
    ..because Republicans NEVER raise taxes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    Greedy
    February 19, 2013 10:45 pm
    b*stards in Olympia! REPEAL this stupid law NOW....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    The Tax Man
    February 19, 2013 11:40 pm
    Let me tell you how it will be There's one for you, nineteen for me 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman Should five per cent appear too small Be thankful I don't take it all 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat. If you get too cold I'll tax the heat, If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet. Don't ask me what I want it for If you don't want to pay some more 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman Now my advice for those who die Declare the pennies on your eyes 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman And you're working for no one but me.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Double yawn. I log on to see if something sounds interesting
    February 20, 2013 6:46 am
    and all I find is a bunch of sour grapes from the losers club. Nut up already. Clean your own house first. Start by getting rid of all your doomsday preaching lunatics then we'll talk.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    "all your doomsday preaching lunatics"
    February 20, 2013 8:32 am
    Who? What? Where? When? I do not re-call seeing any posts speaking of some crazy doomsday????? Or is it only in your small demented mind?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Whatever. Go on the Blaze or any other Lunatarian website.
    February 20, 2013 9:01 am
    Apparently they (whoever they are) are taking our guns, they're taking our jobs, they're taking our freedoms. They hate the constitution. They hate America, the real America. We have to stock up on survival seeds (also known as just plain old seeds) and guns and ammo and water. Obama is a socialist, communist right wing Muslim who wants to institute Sharia Law. Face it. Conservatives in general are down on America and it's future in spite the fact that very little has changed in the 4 years Obama's been president.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood
    February 20, 2013 12:35 pm
    You stated: very little has changed in the 4 years Obama's been president.

    Is that a confession of sorts?

    I mean he did promise "hope and change" if I recall... ;-)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    lol good catch
    February 20, 2013 12:50 pm
    Some things have changed, but it's not the socialist utopia some make it out to be. It's a more somber version, like if Richard Nixon and Barbara Walters got it on and had a baby and it grew up to be president. Sorry for the visual.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cougsfan34 wrote...
    Who cares
    February 22, 2013 11:29 am
    Who cares. Does anybody even go into Seattle anymore? I feel bad for all those suckers who live in that craphole.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    Luke...you and your ilk can only blame yourself...
    February 23, 2013 11:47 pm
    This sounds like a tax that Democrats enacted. Are you rethinking your political alignment yet? Taxing businesses extra for taxes they are already paying? Doesn't sound fair does it? Because it's NOT! Dance your night away, Luke...that club may not be there next week, month or six months due to this tax enacted by your Democrat legislature.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }