Council Proposes Utility Tax Increase

The Tacoma City Council, by unanimous voice vote, approved placing on the Nov. 5, 2013 ballot a proposal to increase utility taxes by 2% for roads.

Along with a few business executives, the Chamber testified during the public comments section against rapid approval of the Resolution 38700.  A draft of the resolution was only proposed late Tuesday, July 16 at a Council Committee of the Whole.

As explained in an earlier Live Wire blog article, the Chamber recognizes the critical need for better roads in our community, but is concerned about the immediate passage to the ballot of this tax increase.  Indeed, during Council comments, Councilmember Joe Lonergan solicited from Kurtis Kingsolver, Interim Director, Tacoma Public Works, that this funding option for road improvements has never been vetted by any committee.

The Chamber urged caution in rapid approval of the resolution because:

• The impacts of this tax increase on our community and economy are unknown.
• The process has not taken advantage of the system of citizens’ committees the Council has just put into place.
• This tax is just a small increment to the financing needs for Tacoma’s roads and is not part of a comprehensive plan.

The Chamber has not yet taken a position on the proposed tax increase.  In arriving at its decision on this issue, the Chamber will follow its committee procedure and seek its Board’s approval for adopting policy.

Chamber Opposes Resolution for 2% Tax on Utilities

The Chamber recommends a “NO” vote by Tacoma City Councilmembers to City Council Resolution No. 38700 that would levy a 2 percent tax on gas, phone and electric companies.  The City has stated that these new tax revenues would go towards transportation improvements.

The Chamber supports efforts and investments to improve roads with responsible and sustainable planning. The City of Tacoma estimates that it needs roughly $800 million in additional revenue to fix existing transportation infrastructure inadequacies.  The proposed tax increase would raise roughly $10 million per year.

“An 80-year long ‘road fix’ is not acceptable.  Not only is it an unnecessarily excessive time period to implement such a fix, but there has been no accountability put in place for a solid plan,” said Tom Pierson, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO. “Why not consider a proposal that would actually provide sound investments for the needed road repairs and maintenance in our lifetime while including transparency in the process.”

Since the proposal did not go before any of the four City of Tacoma created bodies that might typically see this type of proposal, the Chamber is concerned with the short timeline and lack of preparedness the Council had before presenting the proposal as a ballot measure.

The City of Tacoma created four different entities that would normally examine this type of proposal, including:
•    Government, Performance & Finance Committee (which reviews tax issues)
•    Infrastructure, Planning & Sustainability (which reviews many public works issues)
•    The newly created Transportation Commission (which reviews transportation issues)
•    The Fiscal Sustainability Task Force (which is actively reviewing the City’s tax revenue structure)

The Chamber realizes the necessity of a solution that addresses the poor conditions of Tacoma roads but advises City leaders to consider more analysis on impacts to its citizens and businesses before putting forth a plan to vote.

Update: July 23, 2013:   The Chamber has not yet studied the proposed tax assessment and plan, given the extremely short time this proposal has had public exposure.  If placed by the City Council on the November 5 ballot, the Chamber will follow its normal procedure for committee review and Board of Directors policy adoption.

Free boat tours of Port Aug. 25 at Maritime Fest

Join the Port on their free guided boat tours Sunday, Aug. 25, for a ship-side view of one of North America's largest container ports during Tacoma Maritime Fest.

The boat departs from 535 Dock St. at 10 and 11:30 a.m., and 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. Tickets are required and will be available at the Port booth beginning at 9 a.m. the day of the tours. Boarding is first come, first served. Passengers with mobility challenges should plan to take the 10 a.m. tour when the tide makes it easier to board.

For more information, call 253-593-4485.
http://www.portoftacoma.com/tours
http://www.maritimefest.org

Compiling List of Major Employers for Pierce County

Do you have 100 or more full time equivalent (FTE) employees?

The Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board is compiling their annual Major Employers list. Please help by providing your organization’s 2013 FTE number.

Every employer with 100 or more FTEs working in Pierce County will be included. Each FTE number includes all full-time employees plus a proportionate fraction for part-time employees working less than 40 hours/week. They also count contract employees who have been hired for the duration of grant-funded contracts.

If you know of another growing organization that may have 100 FTEs or more, please call it to the EDB’s attention. They will reach out to verify employment.

Please contact Ryan Petty  or (253) 284-5891at the Economic Development Board.

Be On the Lookout for Primary Ballots

Be on the lookout for August 6 Primary ballots! The Pierce County Voters Pamphlets were mailed Thursday, July 11. Ballots to registered voters will be mailed on Friday, July 19. Pierce County election officials suggest voters return ballots early. Ballots may be returned by mail (postage required) or at a drop box (no postage required). Drop boxes are open 24/7 through August 6 at 8 pm. For more information on how to register to vote or to locate a drop box near you, visit the Pierce County Elections website.

Apply for Tacoma City Events and Recognition Committee

The City of Tacoma is looking for applicants to fill nine positions on the new City Events and Recognition Committee (CERC). CERC will serve as an advisory and action committee on City-hosted events and special recognition programs.

Additionally, CERC will be responsible for planning, reviewing and evaluating events, fundraising, and gaining event sponsorships for City-hosted events like Tacoma's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, the City of Destiny Awards, and possibly the new military parade. Committee members must be Tacoma residents, representing each of Tacoma's five Council Districts. CERC members should have a broad range of diverse perspectives, experience, and skill sets.

Currently, the City has only received two applications and will extend the application deadline. Get involved in our community and apply today!

SR 167 - Working for Completion

Tom Pierson, Pres./CEO of the Chamber says "Thanks to all the state legislators and members of the state-wide coalition for Completion of SR 167.  We almost made it – and we are not giving up!"

The Washington State Legislature did not pass the Transportation Revenue Package before they adjourned the 2nd legislative special session Saturday evening.  Passage of the Transportation Revenue Package would have meant completion of SR 167. Completing SR 167 means 80,000 good paying jobs, which in turn means growing our economy in Pierce County, and putting us on the global competitive map for future generations!

Thanks
Thanks to these nine Pierce County legislators who stood up for these good jobs and economic opportunity for our communities:

25th District: Reps. Dawn Morrell and Hans Zeiger.
26th District: Rep. Larry Seaquist.
27th District: Reps. Laurie Jinkins and Jake Fey.
28th District: Rep. Tami Green.
29th District: Reps. David Sawyer and Steve Kirby
30th District: Rep. Roger Freeman

Please feel free to contact members of the delegation with a note of appreciation.

Over the past 153 days of legislative session there are many people to thank. The Chamber and the 167 Coalition are especially indebted to Michael Transue, the chamber’s lobbyist. He worked tirelessly throughout the session!

The many calls, emails and meetings you - the Chamber membership -  took part in were a huge asset.  To you all, a big thank you!  There are many more volunteers whose unflagging involvement deserves recognition. But even at the risk of getting into trouble with omitting names, such a long list would exceed the reasonable limits of this correspondence.

Even though there wasn’t a Senate vote on the Transportation Package, there were many in our delegation ready to vote YES.   Lastly, Pierson thanks Congressman Denny Heck for his leadership and constant focus and strength as a relentless advocate for completing 167.

Next Steps – We are not giving up!
We cannot wait till 2014 or 2015; we need to continue to push to get this done.  Completion of 167 has been waiting for 30 years; we cannot wait any longer.

So at the end of the special session, we are not giving up. We are discussing ways to put a package together with statewide stakeholders, including leaders in the legislature from all four caucuses.  We will be leaning on them more in the days to come. 

More information here: Complete State Route 167 blog

House Members who voted NO:
2nd Legislative District:  Reps. Gary Alexander and J.T. Wilcox.
26th District: Rep. Jan Angel
30th District: Rep. Linda Kochmar
31st District: Reps. Cathy Dahlquist and Christopher Hurst