Washington legislators approve $30 fee for state recreation lands
April 27, 2011
Outdoors enthusiasts could start paying $30 to park at state trailheads and use state parks starting in July.
In a party-line vote April 21, the state House of Representatives passed legislation to create a Discover Pass for state parks and open spaces, including Mount Si, which draws about 500,000 visitors a year. The state Senate passed the measure in a bipartisan vote the previous day.
The legislation now heads to the governor. Gov. Chris Gregoire also proposed a user fee for state parks in a proposed budget released in December.
Once the legislation reaches the governor’s desk, she has 20 days to sign the measure into law.
Democratic state chairman to discuss proposal to scrap presidential primary
March 15, 2011
The leader of the state Democratic Party is scheduled to speak in Issaquah next week about a proposal to scrap the Evergreen State’s presidential primary in favor of the caucus system.
Washington State Democrats Chairman Dwight Pelz is due at the March 16 meeting of the 5th District Democrats, the local party organization.
Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, called for eliminating the 2012 presidential primary in order to save the cash-strapped state about $10 million. Voters mandated the primary in a 1989 ballot initiative, but Democrats rely more on party caucuses to allocate delegates.
State Legislature saves flood control district funding
March 9, 2011
Flooding is a part of life in the Snoqualmie Valley. It is a question of when, not if, the Snoqualmie River will spill over its banks.
That constant dynamic has kept the King County Flood Control District busy since it was created in 2007.
But falling house prices threatened the district’s ability to collect taxes this year. A state cap on property taxes for newer taxing districts threatened to cut off its revenue.
A last minute deal with eight fire districts saved the district’s 2011 levy. But the flood control district was expected to face the same problem in 2012.
The state Legislature has granted the flood control district at least a temporary reprieve.
Washington state Legislature faces tough task in balancing budget deficit after voters send anti-tax message
November 5, 2010
NEW — 6:15 p.m. Nov. 5, 2010
Washington State Legislators are reading one clear message in the results of the Nov. 2 election — no new taxes.
That won’t make the Legislature’s job writing a balanced budget for 2012-2013 any easier when it meets in Olympia in January. The state is expected to be short about $4.8 billion.
Raising taxes is a non-starter for many politicians after voters rejected new taxes and repealed an existing tax in several statewide tax initiatives. Voters also approved an initiative that makes it harder for the Legislature to raise new taxes.
Snoqualmie Valley School Board responds to assault at Mount Si
June 17, 2010
NEW — 6:00 a.m. June 17, 2010
State enacts anti-bullying legislation
Snoqualmie Valley School Board members said they deeply regretted that a student was seriously injured in an incident at Mount Si High School, according to a statement the board released June 15.
The statement was in response to an incident that happened at Mount Si High School Nov. 6, in which a freshman was assaulted in the boy’s locker room. The district hired Daphne Schneider, a licensed private investigator, to look into the incident, and she released her report June 3.
In the statement, the board confirmed it initiated a third-party investigation in the spring to learn more about the incident and to see what improvements could be made to the school’s procedures. After the release of the report, school officials made a new policy requiring staff to immediately call 911 if a student appeared to have a head injury.
Teachers union on board with Race to the Top
May 11, 2010
NEW — 4:30 p.m. May 11, 2010
The Snoqualmie Education Association agreed May 10 to support the district’s involvement in competing for Race to the Top money. The majority of the association’s executive board and building representatives — about 30 people — voted yes on the measure, association President Art Galloway said.
Gov. Chris Gregoire asked Washington school districts to make a decision regarding Race to the Top by May 17. Snoqualmie Valley Superintendent Joel Aune said he would recommend to the school board that it approve the measure at the May 13 board meeting, after the Star’s deadline.
Legislature cuts $120 million from public education to close budget
April 14, 2010
NEW — 2:10 p.m. April 14, 2010
The state Legislature cut $120 million from public K-12 education, but not all of the cuts were as severe as some legislators had earlier proposed.
Governor signs Snoqualmie Valley rep’s health bill
April 14, 2010
NEW — 1:41 p.m. April 14, 2010
State Sen. Cheryl Pflug, a registered nurse who represents Snoqualmie Valley in Olympia, sponsored a bill to establish a pair of pilot projects intended to make healthcare more affordable. Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the legislation March 25.
School officials waiting on Olympia before starting budget
April 6, 2010
NEW — 6:37 p.m. April 6, 2010
Snoqualmie Valley School District officials are still waiting to fully develop their 2010-11 school budget, while legislators work to resolve the state’s budget issues.
Creativity, skill needed to bridge budget gap
January 13, 2010
Washington legislators face a nearly overwhelming task of balancing the state’s budget. Currently it’s $2.6 billion short. The budget gap is proportionally close in size to the shortfall that forced California to issue IOUs. Read more
