Mission/History Staff/Board WRC Publications Business Climate Economics Education Governance Growth & Land Use State Budget Taxes Transportation WashACE Publications Business Climate Economics Education Governance Growth & Land Use State Budget Taxes Transportation Thrive Washington By Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Prior To 2000 Fiscal and Tax Policy Payroll Taxes Energy and Environmental Policy Economy Liability and Tort Reform Health Care Costs Regulatory Environment Transportation Education Latest Headlines	2000 1  2  Next   TITLE AUTHOR DATE SUMMARY Living on the teeter-totter: The balance between jobs & housing in King County WRC 12/29/2000 The Growth Management Act seeks to channel development to urban areas and reduce sprawl. Most development is to be confined within an urban growth boundary. To... Governor's Proposed Budget Pushes the Limit WRC 12/21/2000 Governor Locke's proposed biennial budget for 2001-2003 boosts general fund spending by nearly $2 billion. To accommodate some of the new spending, the legislat... More and Better Schools with Repeal of Prevailing Wage WRC 12/20/2000 Washington’s law requiring construction firms to pay their workers “prevailing” wages when working on public projects needlessly inflates the costs of tho... A Firm Foundation for Growth WRC 12/18/2000 Adequate infrastructure - roads, water and sewer systems, schools - can assure that accommodating the influx of new population works to the benefit of communit... Lawmakers Face Toughest Budget Challenge Since 1993 WRC 12/14/2000 While talk of a 'crisis' is premature, budget deliberations in Olympia will severely test lawmakers. The task is complicated by four factors: passage of two edu... A Decade of Growth and Prosperity WRC 12/4/2000 Ten years after the legislature adopted the Growth Management Act, Washingtonians continue to grapple with the effects of growth and economic development. Witho... Local Use of the Real Estate Excise Tax WRC 11/30/2000 State law authorizes use of several different real estate excise tax (REET) options by local cities and counties. While doing so, it prescribes the purposes for... Local Option REET Magnifies Volatility WRC 11/22/2000 Washington's real estate excise tax is a highly volatile source of state and local government revenue. Washington's Real Estate Excise Tax: High Rate, Volatile Stream WRC 11/20/2000 Washington's real estate excise tax is among the nation's highest. It generates a relatively small stream of revenue for state and local government. And, it is ... What if all the initiatives pass? Major impact on state budget WRC 10/26/2000 If all the initiatives on the November ballot pass, the impact on the state budget will be substantial. Because the initiatives target different tax and spendin... Initiative 722: Wrong Road to Property Tax Reform WRC 10/19/2000 I-722 seeks to limit the growth of government, to constrain increases in property taxes, and to repeal taxes the sponsors believe were imposed in anticipation o... I-745: Unworkable plan delays real transportation solutions WRC 10/16/2000 Initiative 745 will delay development of an effective transportation plan. By handing the legislature an unworkable mandate, the initiative threatens existing ... I-745: So Many Roadblocks, So Little Time WRC 10/13/2000 Initiative 745 directs the legislature to pass legislation assuring that 90 percent of transportation funds are spent on roads. Because existing transit taxes c... I-745: So Many Roadblocks, So Little Time WRC 10/13/2000 Initiative 745 directs the legislature to pass legislation assuring that 90 percent of transportation funds are spent on roads. Because existing transit taxes c... Initiative 745: Paved with Good Intentions WRC 10/12/2000 Proponents of Initiative 745 set out a clear goal: 90 percent of state transportation funds should be spent on roads.In this, the first of three briefs on I-745... Initiative 745: Paved with Good Intentions WRC 10/12/2000 Proponents of Initiative 745 set out a clear goal: 90 percent of state transportation funds should be spent on roads.In this, the first of three briefs on I-745... Initiative 732: Expensive COLA WRC 9/27/2000 Initiative 732 mandates an annual cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for K-12 school employees and most employees of community and technical colleges. It signific... Initiative 729: A Cautious First Step Toward Charter Schools WRC 9/27/2000 Initiative 729 asks voters to decide whether Washington shall allow for charter public schools. These schools give parents, teachers and administrators much for... Initiative 728: More Money for Schools, Poor Fiscal Policy WRC 9/26/2000 To increase public school spending, Initiative 728 would amend Initiative 601, earmark state property tax and lottery revenues, and create a new dedicated fund.... Initiative 728: More Money for Schools, Poor Fiscal Policy WRC 9/26/2000 To increase public school spending, Initiative 728 would amend Initiative 601, earmark state property tax and lottery revenues, and create a new dedicated fund.... Energy Market Skewed by Subsidies WRC 8/16/2000 Taxpayers subsidize the operations of publicly- and cooperativelyowned electric utilities. These subsidies which include tax exemptions and preferential access ... Energy Market Skewed by Subsidies WRC 8/16/2000 Taxpayers subsidize the operations of publicly- and cooperativelyowned electric utilities. These subsidies which include tax exemptions and preferential access ... Energy Market Skewed by Subsidies WRC 8/16/2000 Taxpayers subsidize the operations of publicly- and cooperativelyowned electric utilities. These subsidies which include tax exemptions and preferential access ... Pierce County Residents to Vote on Tax for Parks WRC 8/9/2000 The following report includes a description of the state legislation authorizing Pierce County to put a sales-tax measure on the ballot, a description of the Me... State Issues Ergonomic Rule, Business Objects WRC 7/14/2000 The state Department of Labor and Industries has adopted an ergonomic rule, which it claims will save employers money. The business community doesn't believe i... State Issues Ergonomic Rule, Business Objects WRC 7/14/2000 The state Department of Labor and Industries has adopted an ergonomic rule, which it claims will save employers money. The business community doesn't believe i... Final Legislative Budget Good Enough WRC 6/20/2000 The legislature’s final budget mitigates some of the effects of I-695, partially and temporarily, and pushes more money to K-12 education. I-601 survived, at l... Has Populist Reform Become Too Popular? WRC 6/15/2000 To make government more responsive to the people, 24 states adopted the initiative and popular referendum some time between 1898 and 1918. Washington did so in ... Some Gains for Business in 2000 Session WRC 5/15/2000 State lawmakers passed several bills of interest to the business community during the 2000 legislative session. The even split between Democrats and Republican... Some Gains for Business in 2000 Session WRC 5/15/2000 State lawmakers passed several bills of interest to the business community during the 2000 legislative session. The even split between Democrats and Republican... 1  2  Next

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