Washington loses family-owned manufacturer after nearly five decades amid concerns over crime and taxes

Tacoma family-owned camshaft shop plans to relocate after nearly five decades

Delta Camshaft, a second-generation, veteran-owned camshaft manufacturing and repair business in Tacoma, Washington, says it is not closing but plans to relocate while continuing to serve customers. The company traces its roots to 1977, when it began as Delta Engineering, and its current owner is Jon Bodwell.

The shop manufactures and repairs camshafts for engine rebuilders, repair facilities, performance enthusiasts, automotive restorers, and individual customers. Bodwell has cited graffiti, crime concerns, rising insurance costs, higher power bills, and tax increases as factors behind the decision to leave Washington.

Owner cites crime as a key reason for leaving

Jon Bodwell has cited graffiti, crime concerns, rising insurance costs, higher power bills, and taxes as factors in Delta Camshaft’s planned move out of Washington. In a May 2026 interview, he said those pressures have made it harder to keep operating from the company’s Tacoma location.

The company says it is not closing and plans to relocate while continuing to serve its customers.

Washington’s high-earner tax adds to the cost debate

Washington’s new “Millionaires Tax,” Senate Bill 6346, was signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on March 30, 2026. The law imposes a 9.9% tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million household standard deduction, with the tax taking effect Jan. 1, 2028, and first returns and payments due in 2029.

Bodwell has cited taxes among the pressures behind Delta Camshaft’s planned relocation, while supporters of the tax argue it will make Washington’s tax system fairer and help fund tax relief and public programs.

How Washington’s Millionaires Tax works

Washington’s Millionaires Tax applies a 9.9% tax to Washington taxable income above a $1 million household standard deduction beginning Jan. 1, 2028. First returns and payments for 2028 income are due in 2029.

State Senate Democrats say the tax is expected to apply to roughly 20,000 households, or less than 1% of Washington households. The law includes credits and adjustments intended to avoid double taxation, and business-related provisions include relief tied to B&O taxes and pass-through entity payments.

Delta Camshaft becomes part of Washington’s business-climate debate

Delta Camshaft’s planned relocation has become one example in a broader debate over Washington’s taxes, costs, and business climate. The Association of Washington Business reported in spring 2026 that 24% of surveyed employers were considering moving their business out of Washington, while 18% were developing a relocation plan and 7% had secured an out-of-state location.

Those survey findings show elevated concern among participating employers, but they do not by themselves prove that a statewide business exodus is underway.

Potential impact on Tacoma-area workers and customers

Delta Camshaft’s planned relocation could affect its Tacoma workers, customers, and business relationships, but public reports do not establish that “scores” of employees will be directly affected. The company’s own materials describe a specialized camshaft manufacturing and repair operation serving engine rebuilders, repair facilities, performance enthusiasts, restorers, and individual customers.

Because the company says it is relocating rather than closing, the local impact depends on where operations move, how many workers are retained, and whether customers continue using the business after the move.

Washington employers weigh safety, tax, and cost pressures

Some Washington employers are reporting concerns about taxes, cost of living, and the broader cost of doing business. An Association of Washington Business survey cited taxes and cost of living among the leading reasons some respondents were considering moving or expanding outside the state.

For Delta Camshaft, Bodwell specifically cited graffiti, crime concerns, insurance, power costs, and taxes as pressures behind the planned relocation.

Little-known fact: Violent crime in Washington, D.C. has experienced a consistent downward trend over the past two years, though overall crime rates remain higher than national averages.

How Washington compares to low‑tax states

Washington’s tax policy contrasts with states such as Texas, Florida, and Tennessee, which largely avoid broad income taxes on individuals. Those states often market themselves as “business‑friendly” destinations, emphasizing lower operating costs and simpler compliance.

Firms that move often cite access to skilled labor, transportation networks, and existing industrial clusters as secondary factors. However, tax and cost‑of‑living differences remain a headline‑level selling point for relocation‑oriented economic‑development campaigns.

Delta Camshaft enters Washington’s tax and business-climate debate

Delta Camshaft’s planned relocation has become part of a larger Washington debate over taxes, regulation, public safety, and economic competitiveness. Supporters of the Millionaires Tax say it targets fewer than 1% of households and will help fund programs such as the Working Families Tax Credit, tax reductions, and public services.

Opponents, including business groups and Republican lawmakers, argue the new tax and broader cost pressures could push employers and high earners to consider leaving or expanding elsewhere.

Governor’s tax and safety stance

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Washington’s Millionaires Tax into law on March 30, 2026, describing it as part of an effort to rebalance the state’s tax code and make Washington more affordable. The tax is set to begin in 2028, with first payments due in 2029.

Separately, Ferguson has made public safety a stated priority. In 2025, he signed legislation creating a $100 million grant program for police hiring and public-safety improvements, though 2026 reporting indicates the rollout has been limited so far.

What the closure means for other manufacturers

Delta Camshaft’s planned move is a cautionary example for Washington manufacturers assessing taxes, operating costs, public-safety concerns, and long-term investment plans. It does not by itself prove a statewide manufacturing exodus, but AWB survey data shows that some employers are considering relocation or expansion outside Washington.

For manufacturers with specialized equipment and skilled workers, decisions about relocation may depend on taxes, insurance, power costs, workforce availability, customers, and the cost of moving operations.

Broader implications for Washington’s economy

Delta Camshaft’s planned relocation highlights broader questions about Washington’s business climate, particularly for small and mid-sized manufacturers facing rising costs. The case does not establish a statewide economic trend on its own, but employer surveys and state tax debates show that relocation and expansion decisions have become a more visible issue in Washington.

Policy choices around taxes, public safety, infrastructure, energy costs, and workforce development could affect whether similar businesses continue investing in the state.

Washington is also home to lesser-known landmarks beyond the headlines, including its biggest volcano — a massive natural feature many people pass without realizing it.

Delta Camshaft’s future after Washington

Delta Camshaft says it is not closing and plans to relocate while continuing to serve customers. Owner Jon Bodwell has cited graffiti, crime concerns, rising insurance and utility costs, taxes, and the broader cost of doing business as reasons for leaving Washington.

The planned move has become part of a wider debate over how public safety, taxes, and operating costs influence where small manufacturers choose to invest.

Washington residents are also preparing for broader changes that could affect daily life, with travelers and commuters facing major transportation policy shifts.

Do you think crime and taxes are major factors when companies decide where to operate? Share your thoughts.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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