Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.
Focus - October 1997
REFERENDUM 47 UPDATE
If Referendum 47 is approved by the voters, any taxing district with a population of 10,000 or more will be limited in the amount by which it can increase its property tax levy. With a simple majority vote of the legislative body, the levy can increase by 6 percent or the rate of inflation, as measured by the gross domestic product implicit price deflator for the third quarter of 1998, whichever is less. On October 7, the implicit price deflator was announced to be 1.9 percent. In order to raise property tax revenues by more than that, the legislative body must vote to do so by a supermajority, or, in the case of a legislative body of four or fewer members, by a two-thirds vote. A memo from the Association of Washington Cities gives further details.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
We are pleased to announce a new publication available from MRSC, The Open Public Meetings Act - How it Applies to Washington Cities, Towns, and Counties. This publication is available for viewing in HTML and for downloading in Adobe Acrobat. This publication comprehensively reviews the provisions of the state Open Public Meetings Act and addresses selected questions that have been asked of MRSC staff concerning the application of the Act. To order a copy, check out our publications list and our publications ordering form.
KENMORE TO BECOME WASHINGTON'S NEXT NEW CITY
On September 16, voters approved the incorporation of the Kenmore area of King County with 72 percent voting in favor of forming a new city. The city of Kenmore, which has a projected incorporation date of August 31, 1998, will have a population of about 17,000. Council elections are planned for spring 1998.
NEW MASTER LIBRARY INDEX
The MRSC Library has created a new Master Library Index, which is available on the Web as a Folio Infobase. The index combines the local government information, ordinance summaries, interlocal and private contracts, and library classification code infobases and replaces these infobases. It offers the user "one stop shopping" in searching items in the library's files. Check it out!
NEW LEGISLATION FIXES THE STATE v. RIFE WARRANT CHECK PROBLEM
State v. Rife was decided 8/28/97 by the state supreme court. This decision held that an officer temporarily detaining a person for a non-criminal traffic infraction has authority to do a driver's license record check but absent probable cause cannot detain that person for a longer period of time in order to perform a more thorough computer check for outstanding warrants. On September 17th the legislature met and passed a bill (House Bill 3902), which specifically authorizes officers to detain persons stopped for traffic infractions for a reasonable period of time to check for outstanding warrants.
WEB SIGHTINGS
Do you need quick access to population data for Washington cities and counties? The 1996 Population Trends for Washington State publication by the Forecasting Division of the Washington State Office of Financial Management is available on their Web site. Table 4 lists the current population of cities, towns and counties as of April 1, 1996. For more detailed information, check out OFM's 1995 Data Book which presents in a single reference document, comprehensive Washington State social, Economic, and government finance information.
If you need access to data from other states, the U.S. Census Bureau offers the 1996 Statistical Abstract of the United States for viewing on their Web site. This publication provides an extensive selection of statistics for the United States, with selected data for regions, divisions, states, metropolitan areas (MA's), and cities. The reference volume, issued annually, since 1878, is the U.S. government's most important statistical factbook on the social, political, and Economic aspects of American life.
KELLOGG PROGRAM TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY USE IN RURAL AREAS
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is offering grants as part of a four-year program to assist rural areas in using technology to meet community and Economic development challenges. Grants will be awarded in three categories: (1) clusters of community teams which build capacity to use information systems and technology to enhance community development; (2) community support organizations including organizations that develop or capitalize on Economic opportunities in rural areas; and (3) policy support organizations that use technology to serve rural policies. For deadlines and further information, visit the W.K. Kellogg Foundation homepage or call the Foundation at 616-968-1611.
DID YOU KNOW?
Can public buildings be used for candidate forums? Get the answer to this and other frequently asked questions on election and campaign issues prepared in anticipation of the fall election season.
SITING TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
The wireless telecommunications industry is becoming increasingly frustrated with the length of time it takes some jurisdictions to process applications. You don't want your city or county involved in costly litigation. If your city currently has a moratorium in effect on siting wireless telecommunications facilities, make sure that diligent effort is going into drafting, revising, and passing the necessary regulations. Keep the telecommunications providers informed and involved in the process. If your jurisdiction has yet to deal with this issue, DO IT NOW, before the first telecommunications provider asks for a copy of the zoning provisions and regulations regarding siting telecommunications facilities. MRSC has a wealth of materials on telecommunications posted on this Web site to assist you with this project.
NEW UTILITY BILLING AND COLLECTION PUBLICATION
Information on utility billings and collection practices has been available on the Web for several months and has now been issued as MRSC Report No. 40, Utility Billing & Collection Issues. To order a copy, check out our publications list and our publications ordering form.
INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWARDS COMPETITION
Applications are now being accepted for the Innovations in American Government awards competition. All units of government within the U.S. are eligible for recognition and awards. In 1998, The Ford Foundation will award $100,000 grants to 10 government programs and $20,000 grants to an additional 15 programs, for a total of $1.3 million. The competition is administered by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government. The deadline is Wednesday, January 7, 1998. To receive an application, visit the Innovations homepage or call the Innovations Program at 1-800-722-0074.
NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAMS
A new publication, National Awards Programs Highlight Municipal Strengths, prepared by the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service, is now available on MRSC's Web site. This report lists many national awards programs for cities, including the All-America City Award and the Innovations in American Government Awards Program.