Richmond voters poised to consider progressive business tax in November

Richmond voters will be asked in November whether to change the way the city assesses business taxes, with the City Council’s move to put a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot proposing a switch from a payroll tax system to one based on businesses’ gross receipts.

If voters approve that measure, businesses would be taxed not on the number of employees they have, but on gross revenues, ranging from 0.075 percent to 1.395 percent of gross receipts. The measure includes an exemption for small businesses with gross receipts under $250,000.