Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2015-01-26 Item 2B - Handout Distributed at Meeting - Revised Attachment A of 2015 Legislative AgendaAttachment A City of Tukwila 2015 Legislative Agenda Transportation and Infrastructure • Funding from key programs such as the Transportation Improvement Board and Public Works Assistance Account are critical for cities in addressing infrastructure and transportation needs. • Previous raids on the Public Works Assistance Account resulted in a loss of $9.6 million in loans to Tukwila alone, which would have funded critical infrastructure in the City. • The State Legislature should fully fund these and other programs, such as the Centennial Clean Water Fund and Model Toxics Control Account, to allow cities to meet growing transportation and infrastructure needs. • A robust public transportation system is critical to Tukwila's residents, guests and business community and the City continues to seek investments to increase access to transit; the State Legislature should provide additional revenue options that would provide Sound Transit the opportunity to propose a new package of investments to the voters. Shared Revenue • The State must continue its role as a partner with cities. • Part of this partnership is maintaining existing programs such as Streamlined Sales Tax Mitigation Payments, which provide Tukwila over $1.1 million annually. • In addition, the state must restore 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 continues 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. Marijuana • The state must coordinate medical marijuana and Initiative 502. • The legal quagmire between the two allows for significant threats to public safety and direct and damaging impacts in our cities' neighborhoods. • It is time to reconcile the two systems and provide local jurisdictions with a portion of the taxes to address marijuana impacts within cities. Human Services Funding • The City of Tukwila is committed to local funding for human services, and we know that as the city with the lowest median income in King County, many of our residents rely on local, county, state and federal services for basic survival. • While we continue to do our part, we cannot do it alone and will continue to rely heavily on county, state and federal partners to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. • We strongly encourage the state to adequately fund human services programs for the health of the safety net. 1/26/15