Trump threatens Mexico, Canada, and China with tariffs if they don’t curb migration, fentanyl flow
The driver behind Washington state’s budget shortfall
(The Center Square) – Earlier this month, state officials reported that the operating budget faces a $10-12 billion deficit over the next four years. Unlike during the Great Recession, the budget deficit isn’t due to a decline
Snohomish County approves 4% property tax increase through 2026
(The Center Square) – The Snohomish County Council approved a property tax increase of 4% over the next two years as opposed to an 8% increase proposed by the county executive. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers’ proposed
Bellingham mayor’s executive order sparks immediate work to boost housing
(The Center Square) – A recent executive order from Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund seeks to quickly address a worsening housing crisis within the city through streamlined permitting processes, new legislation, and incentivising the creation of more housing.
Proposed littering ordinance could see Spokane property owners paid for cleanup
(The Center Square) – Spokane is considering an ordinance that would copy the state’s law on littering, allowing property owners to get a chunk of the change for clean-up efforts. Mayor Lisa Brown proposed the ordinance last
Washington cities to ask state to raise cap on annual property tax increases
(The Center Square) – As federal COVID-19 pandemic aid dries up and budget deficits mount, cities across the state are asking their legislators to let them tax resident more than the 1% cap on annual property tax
AGO task force looks at 'extremism' from a public health perspective
(The Center Square) – As the Washington State Attorney General’s Office continues work on a pilot project for a hotline to report “bias incidents,” it has separately started a task force focused on “extremism and mass violence”