The Legislature has finally completed its appointments to the Infrastructure Study Committee, State Capital Budget and Loan Programs. The appointees are:

Senate:

• Senator Brandland (R-42)
• Senator Fraser (D-22)
• Senator Kilmer (D-26)

House:

• Representative McCune (R-2)
• Representative Ormsby ((D-3)
• Representative Strow (R-10)
• Representative Takko (D-19)

Juli Wilkerson, Director of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and Scott Merriman of the Governor’s office are also appointed to the committee.

The Infrastructure Study Committee is expected to focus their efforts in two areas:

• Core Infrastructure (water, sewer, stormwater, etc)
• Community Development related programs-we expect the focus to be on the future of the Job Development Fund.

In our meetings with legislators, it is clear this effort will extend beyond this interim session.

Transportation

Joint Ballot Measure for Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District Moving Forward

After several years of planning and outreach (and changes to state law), the county councils in King, Pierce, and Snohomish County were finally able to take council action to approve a November joint ballot measure on the Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District Proposal. We are expecting extensive public outreach to begin in September.

The new Roads & Transit capital investments would create assets worth approximately $17.8 billion in 2006 dollars ($10.8 billion for Sound Transit and $7 billion for RTID).

New taxes proposed:

• 0.6 of one percent of sales tax – six cents on a $10 purchase (.5 Sound Transit, .1 RTID)
• 0.8% MVET, or $80 for every $10,000 worth of value per vehicle (RTID only)

New tax revenues generated during 20-year investment period:

• Sound Transit: $7.5 billion
• RTID: $4.7 billion

The proposed new revenues would leverage existing taxes currently levied by Sound Transit and the State of Washington to fund the transit and highway projects.

Please see July’s Bulletin for a summary of the transit and roads proposal.

Transportation Benefit Districts

The modified Transportation Benefit District authority is available to 36 of 39 counties (King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties are eligible December 1, 2007). AWC and Washington State Association of Counties staff have received numerous questions on this authority. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions and Checklist document on how to implement a TBD. You can find this at www.awcnet.org/tbd.

Freight Investment Study Stakeholders Group

The Joint Transportation Committee held its first meeting on August 9, 2007. The objective of the group is to:

• Require the study of alternatives for financing freight improvements;
• Involve stakeholders; and
• Require an evaluation of the structure and responsibility for a future project recommendation body.

The stakeholders group is mostly comprised of the private sector carriers. In addition, two legislators from Alaska are participating in the group. The consultant team presented a framework for the study, including analytical tools (models) that could be used to assess the cost to shippers and the ports if container fees are imposed. A second meeting is tentatively scheduled for the end of September.

For more information or questions on any of these issues, please contact Ashley Probart, ashleyp@awcnet.org.