From the Director: Legislature Heading for the Final "Push"
By Stan Finkelstein, AWC Executive Director
With barely a week left until conclusion of the 105-day regular session, the Legislature is positioning for the final "push."

The major issues yet to be resolved include the biennial operating and capital budgets, and the transportation package. Additionally, the Association remains hopeful that differences between the Senate and House on ESSB 6050, providing financial assistance for struggling cities and counties, can be addressed before adjournment.

As has been reported by the press, feelings in the four caucuses are beginning to harden. There is still some ill will as a result of the defeat of unrelated legislation, which could increase the difficulty of reaching accommodation on several of the key issues. Most legislative observers are sensing that the differences on the budget and the accompanying revenue package may be easier to resolve than will those on the transportation funding package. Any transportation funding proposal will require bipartisan support. However, we remain optimistic that there will be an agreement reached on all of the key issues prior to expiration of the 105^th day.

Transportation Funding Package May be Near Agreement

We are hearing reports that the House and Senate may be getting closer to agreement on a transportation funding package. This past Monday, House Transportation Committee Chair, Rep. Ed Murray (D-Seattle), outlined his transportation funding proposal. which calls for a 9-1/2 cent gas tax increase spread over four years coupled with an increase in vehicle weight fees. That package produces approximately $8.3 billion over 15 years, somewhat less then the Senate’s 11 cent proposal. The House proposal also includes several local options to help address city and county transportation needs. While the House proposal is somewhat more modest than that of the Senate, it also provides for a half cent of the increase to be allocated to cities and towns and a like amount to counties. Once an agreement is reached, the vote count will be critical, and the Democrats are expecting a reasonable level of support from Republicans to pass the package.

From the standpoint of cities, both the House and Senate proposals contain a number of beneficial elements aside from the increased distribution of gas tax and the availability of local options. Both packages provide for increased ongoing funding for the Transportation Improvement Board, and both fund a small city pavement preservation program. There is also funding for pedestrian safety programs and for freight mobility.

On a closing note, I would also like to express our appreciation for the governor’s strong words in support of additional funding to address city and county infrastructure needs. At her press conference last week, the Governor acknowledged the importance of providing resources to enable cities and counties to address their roadway needs.

City/County Financial Assistance (ESSB 6050) On "Life Support"

As of this moment, proposed legislation to provide financial assistance for struggling cities and counties is encountering substantial resistance in the House. While House members recognize the financial problems of those jurisdictions, the funding source, a new tax on satellite television services, will be a hard vote for many legislators. For more details, see the Municipal Finance section.

Action Item: Officials from those cities that would qualify for assistance from this legislation are urged to call their legislators immediately and urge their support for ESSB 6050.

In Closing

This will be the last Legislative Bulletin that will be sent out prior to adjournment of the session. The next Bulletin will be sent out the week following adjournment. I would like to express the Association’s and lobbyists’ appreciation to all city officials who have gone the extra mile to assist in our legislative advocacy by contacting their legislators and conveying the AWC message. This has been a more positive session in many respects than we had anticipated and much of the credit is due to those contacts from "home."