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STAY HEALTHY | A nasal form of the flu shot is available if you hate needles [10]
VOL. 13, NO. 396
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Roegner: Political protest makes lasting impression [4] Johnson: High-profile sex scandals and your children [4] CRIME BLOTTER | Burglar flees after finding victim’s sleeping daughter [3] EDUCATION | Guest column on Standards Based Education in Federal Way schools [6]
SPORTS | Presenting The Mirror’s 2011 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011 All-City Football Team [14]
CALENDAR | Upcoming events include holiday concerts by local performers [7-8]
City’s legislative agenda targets money, sewers BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
Maintaining funding levels from the state, and lobbying for aid to help increase the downtown core’s sewage capacity, will be Federal Way’s top two legislative agenda items for 2012.
Due to the special legislative session beginning Nov. 28 in Olympia, the city council voted on the legislative agenda ahead of schedule to make sure Federal Way’s concerns are heard properly in the state’s capital. “Our number one priority may be significantly impacted by that
special session,” Mayor Skip Priest said, referencing the fact that state-shared revenues comprise approximately 5 percent of the city’s operating budget. Bryant Enge, director of administrative services, shared how the legislative agenda was developed. “The key principles of this
agenda are to maintain revenue sources, preserve and enhance city services, promote economic growth, address quality of life issues, and to maintain local decision making,” Enge said during the council’s Nov. 15 meeting. Enge said the agenda was categorized to give the city direc-
Holiday tree lighting set for Nov. 25 at the mall
WA budget forecast takes another dive (OFM), the state has experienced six consecutive negative forecasts dating back to September 2010. This downward trend has meant the state’s General Fund BY GREG ALLMAIN projections have decreased gallmain@fedwaymirror.com by approximately $5 billion. Since the beginning of the The Washington economic collapse in 2008, economic forecast took General Fund projections another hit, with the state’s have declined by more than chief economist Dr. Arun $7.6 billion, the OFM Raha saying the state notes. will take in $122 In Federal Way, million less than STATE the continued anticipated with downward trend the last economic of both state and forecast released in federal funding has September. pushed the city and “Our current economic Federal Way Public Schools forecast is very similar to into difficult spots. The city our September forecast, was forced into numerous with the same muddle — layoffs and reorganizations though conditions expected in 2010, and may have to for the rest of the biennium, make more in the near fualong with a high degree of ture, especially with Federal downside risk,” Raha said. Way’s recent inability to get “Revenues depend on the all parties on board with economy, and the economy a change in its employee is a moving target.” health care plan. The September forecast For FWPS, a $10 million anticipated a $1.4 billion budgetary shortfall had to shortfall from previous [ more STATE, page 13 ] estimates, causing Gov. Christine Gregoire to announce a special session of the state Legislature that month. That 30-day special session will begin Nov. 28 in Olympia. “Our November adjustments reflect uncertainty in various markets, but not another downshift in expectations,” Raha added. According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management 6 89076 19979 7
Federal Way schools and City Hall are affected by shortfall
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The public is invited to attend the community’s holiday tree lighting event Friday, Nov. 25, at The Commons Mall near the northwest entrance by FedEx/Kinko’s store. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a welcome by Mayor Skip Priest and performances by the Jet Cities Chorus and the Federal Way Chorale. The mall’s Santa will drop by to visit with the kids and there will be hot chocolate and cookies. The tree lighting will commence by 6 p.m. on a tree already located on the mall’s property. The mall is located at South 320th Street and Pacific Highway South. The event is sponsored by the City of Federal Way, The Commons and South King Fire and Rescue. Holiday street lights will also begin lighting up the downtown, starting Nov. 23 and continuing through New Year’s Eve. There has been an interest in the community for a number of years to have a tree-lighting event for the holidays. Merchants at Dash Point Village have held a similar event in the past. This year’s suggestion came from the Federal Way Arts Commission, according to the city.
tion on where to expend the most effort regarding its positions with the legislators in Olympia. The agenda is broken down into “highest priority,” “other top priorities,” “support/oppose policy positions” and “track/monitor policy issues.” [ more AGENDA, page 13 ]
NEWS
Fellowship helps feed dozens of local families Members of New Life Faith Christian Fellowship have been collecting donations this month at Grocery Outlet, 32945 Pacific Highway S. The small fellowship expects to feed more than 150 people (at least 44 families) for Thanksgiving. On Fridays and Saturdays starting Dec. 2, food collections for Christmas dinners will resume at the Grocery Outlet entrance. To learn more, volunteer or donate, call (253) 927-1329. Pictured left to right: Tricia Crader-Larsh, store owner Mark Seubert, and Pastor Barry and Catherine Collins show off the day’s bounty on a chilly afternoon last Friday. ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror