COW 2018-11-13 Item 4G - Resolution - 2019 Legislative Agenda

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ATTACHMENT A City of Tukwila 2019 Legislative Agenda Transportation & Infrastructure • Join the US DOT, Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, the cities of Renton and Tukwila and other partners to fund the Strander Extension project to increase freight mobility and remove 55,000 vehicles a day from 1-405, 167 and other nearby roadways. • Provide funding for critical local infrastructure, including the Allentown Bridge, which is Structurally Deficient and Functionally Obsolete. • Create stable, reliable infrastructure assistance funding for cities to assist in repairing roads, bridges and other public infrastructure that support economic development. Housing & Human Services • Fully fund the state Housing Trust Fund to provide resources for affordable housing. • Create new and expand existing local options to generate revenue for housing and human services and for capital construction of affordable housing. • We strongly encourage the state to adequately fund human services programs for the health of the safety net. Shared Revenue • The State must continue its role as a partner with cities, including reinstating funding for the Public Works Assistance Account and Community Economic Revitalization Board. • Reestablish the Streamlined Sales Tax Mitigation Payments to cities hard-hit by the change to destination based sales tax, which provides Tukwila over $1.2 million annually to replace lost revenue, which was ended in the 2018 session. • In addition, the state must retain the local share of liquor taxes to allow jurisdictions to address impacts, such as public safety, of privatized liquor in our cities. Revenue Reform • Allow cities the authority and flexibility to address the fact that growth in the cost of services continue to outstrip revenues. • The state should amend the law that limits annual property tax growth to 1 percent and work with cities to authorize additional funding flexibility and opportunities at the local level. Education • Implement needs based funding for allocation of social emotional student support resources and expand funding for learning opportunities for summer school students. • Increase funding for homeless students and secondary ELL students. • Incorporate early learning for low income students as a part of Basic Education. Law Enforcement • Increase funding for law enforcement training to ensure that all police officers have access to key resources that save lives. • Change the day rate for Department of Corrections inmates to ensure equitable reimbursements for local facilities such as SCORE. Preserve Lodging Tax Flexibility • Ensure the definition of "tourist" in Washington State remains flexible to allow jurisdictions and Lodging Tax Advisory Committees to distribute lodging tax dollars in a manner that best serves each individual community. 100