Nearly 30 groups representing local businesses are holding a joint press conference tomorrow morning to appeal to the city council and mayor to "cut costs and reduce expenses—as private employers would do—before pursuing new taxes," according to a press release that just landed in my inbox. The groups include several neighborhood chambers of commerce, the Master Builders, the Washington Restaurant Association, and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

The preemptive strike comes the same day as the second of two public hearings on the city budget, which faces a shortfall next year of more than $50 million. As we reported last week, the city is considering a number of potential tax increases—including an increase in the commercial parking tax, reinstatement of the controversial employee "head tax," and higher fees for city services—to close the budget gap. Last Wednesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine proposed a sales-tax increase to pay for public safety and public health programs.