Growth Management Act: Time for a change?
On Sept. 20, the state House Local Government Committee held a work session in Olympia to review the Growth Management Act, Washington's comprehensive land-use planning law which has been in effect for 25 years. It was part of a larger effort by the committee to consider changes to the law. At this meeting, the topics […]
September 06 , 2016 - Emily Makings
Previewing tomorrow's McCleary hearing
Tomorrow the state Supreme Court will hear arguments in the McCleary case, after which it will decide whether to continue sanctions on the Legislature. The News Tribune has a preview of what could happen. The attorney general has argued that the Court should lift contempt and cancel sanctions. Superintendent Randy Dorn thinks the Court should […]
August 26 , 2016 - Emily Makings
The property tax has a long history (and plays a key role the McCleary case)
In Washington, schools are funded mainly by the property tax (levied at the state and local level). In the McCleary case on school funding, the state Supreme Court said that local levies are not dependable and regular enough to be used for basic education. So I thought the Atlantic's quick post on the history of the […]
August 23 , 2016 - Emily Makings
New in the McCleary case: The AG answers the Supreme Court's questions
The attorney general’s office has responded to the state Supreme Court’s July 14 order in the McCleary case. No big surprises here — the brief argues the contempt order should be dissolved and the sanctions ended. The AG said as much in previous communications with the Court this year. But the AG’s new brief does have […]
August 04 , 2016 - Emily Makings
How to help rural economies
As Opportunity Washington noted yesterday, while the unemployment rate in the Puget Sound region is low, it is higher in other parts of the state. Along those lines, Governing Magazine has an interesting story this month: "Can Counties Fix Rural America's Endless Recession?" Urban America recovers from recessions, but rural America no longer seems able to. […]
July 14 , 2016 - Emily Makings
State Supreme Court will hear arguments in McCleary case on Sept. 7
Today the state Supreme Court ordered the parties in the McCleary school funding case to appear before the Court on Sept. 7. Background: On Jan. 9, 2014, the Court ordered the state to provide a plan for complying with McCleary. On Sept. 11, 2014, the Court found the state in contempt. On August 13, 2015, the Court […]
June 21 , 2016 - Emily Makings
How will the revenue forecast affect the budget?
Kriss wrote a few days ago that the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) increased the state revenue forecast last week. In near general fund–state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) terms, 2015–17 revenue is expected to increase by $308.2 million and 2017–19 revenue is expected to increase by $126.4 million. As Opportunity Washington writes, “While the […]
June 20 , 2016 - Emily Makings
The AG on potential additional McCleary sanctions
As required by the state Supreme Court, the Legislature submitted its 2016 report on its McCleary progress to the Court on May 18. The same day, the attorney general asked the Court to lift the contempt order and end sanctions. A few weeks ago, plaintiffs, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, and others filed […]
June 17 , 2016 - Mary Strow
June 15 , 2016 - Emily Makings
New report: McCleary Deadline Approaching, But How Long Will the Solution Last?
In a new report, we write about the McCleary decision, education funding enhancements the state has made in response, and what remains to be done. We also provide background on the state property tax system and school funding. Briefly: State funding for public schools has increased by 40.6 percent since 2009–11. Washington had the third highest funding […]