What's next for I-1366?
The latest returns have Initiative 1366 leading by 53.13 percent to 46.87 percent. But even if that lead holds, the measure will be challenged in court. I-1366 would reduce the state sales tax from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent on April 15, 2016 — unless the state Legislature refers a constitutional amendment to voters requiring a two-thirds […]
October 30 , 2015 - Mary Strow
October 21 , 2015 - Mary Strow
House committee explores K-12 financing
Yesterday in Olympia the House Finance Committee looked at how public schools are funded, here in Washington and nationwide. Committee staff prepared in-depth reports with lots of information (the Research Council in 2013 published a report on on K-12 financing, comparing Washington’s funding to other states’. You can read that here). Some highlights: Washington differs […]
October 09 , 2015 - Mary Strow
October 05 , 2015 - Mary Strow
Governor's new carbon-cap rule could include Seattle's lone steel manufacturing plant
Last month, Gov. Jay Inslee directed the state Department of Ecology to start “writing a rule that would cap and reduce carbon pollution.” This directive came after the governor’s carbon cap-and-trade proposal died in the 2015 legislative session. Ecology also released a list of entities it says emit at least 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide […]
October 02 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Marijuana revenue distributions indicate strong cross-border sales
The Columbian reports that Vancouver is getting more of the marijuana revenue distributions for fiscal year 2016 than any other city — by far. The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) has the data. The 2015-17 state budget provides that $6 million will be distributed to cities and counties in FY 2016, and only those jurisdictions […]
September 30 , 2015 - Mary Strow
September 24 , 2015 - Mary Strow
Taxes: The grass is always greener…
With the first meeting today of Gov. Inslee’s legislative McCleary workgroup, we’re likely to see another round of calls for new taxes – specifically, an income tax and/or a capital gains tax – to fund the rest of the state’s K-12 obligations. Arguments in favor of new forms of taxation include: Washington’s tax system is unfair and regressive, […]
September 23 , 2015 - Mary Strow
September 16 , 2015 - Mary Strow