Volume No. 29, No. 7
February 17, 2006

Key Issues in This Week's Bulletin

Action Item: Streamlined Sales Tax (SSB 6594)

Please contact your Representative today and ask him/her to support the passage of SSB 6594. Passage of this bill brings Washington State into compliance with the National SST Agreement. SSB 6594 includes full mitigation. See the Municipal Finance section.

Action Item: Multi-Family Housing Property Tax Exemption (HB 1742)

Contact your Senators today and seek support for this proposal to extend this local housing tool to additional cities. Please ask that the bill be scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Financial Institutions, Housing & Consumer Protection Committee. See the Municipal Finance section.

Senate Supplemental Budget (SSB 6386)

The Senate Ways & Means Committee released its version of the supplemental budget for 2005-07. The bill assumes passage of several tax exemptions that impact cities, including HB 2424 the farm fuel exemption. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.

Sex Offenders/Community Protection Zones (SSB 6325)

All but one of the community protection zone (CPZ) bills, addressing how sex offender residences may be regulated, are now considered dead. SSB 6325 which passed the Senate last week with only two "no" votes, extends the law that created CPZs but preempts local ordinances. See the Law & Justice section for more information.

Senate Transportation Budget

The Senate Transportation Committee just passed its supplemental transportation budget. (The House Bill is expected late this week). Most of the bill accommodates project adjustments. Please see the Transportation section for the budget components that are of interest to cities.

 

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