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‘Cops and Kids’ helps local families BY KIRK BOXLEITNER kboxleitner@marysvilleglobe.com
SPORTS: Eagles win Crosstown Showdown. Page 10
ARLINGTON — More than two dozen Arlington children were treated to midday holiday shopping excursions alongside area police officers on Saturday, Dec. 17, as the Fraternal Order of Police brought together “Cops and Kids.” “With the economy the way it’s been, it’s been tough to get money for programs like this,” Snohomish County FOP Lodge President and Arlington Police Sgt. Anthony Davis said. “Especially with as tough as things are, kids might not always look at the police in a positive way. We want them to feel like they can come to us when they need someone to turn to, rather than being scared of us.” Davis explained that the kids of this year’s “Cops and Kids” were recommended by local school counselors, and benefited from what he deemed “a ton of volunteers,” including law enforcement officers and civilians alike. “It’s not easy to take that many kids shopping and keep track of all of them, espeSEE FAMILIES, PAGE 2
SPORTS: Eagles defeat Panthers. Page 11
Kirk Boxleitner/Staff Photo
Rico Cerecero, left, and Cameron Peters are all smiles as they pick out some holiday shopping treats during ‘Cops and Kids’ at the Arlington Walmart on Dec. 17
Council approves 2012 city budget
INDEX
BY KIRK BOXLEITNER kboxleitner@marysvilleglobe.com
CLASSIFIED ADS 15-18 LEGAL NOTICES
9
OPINION
6
SPORTS
10-12
WORSHIP
13-14
Vol. 123, No. 23
ARLINGTON — A split vote and harsh words marked the Arlington City Council’s adoption of a budget for 2012. While the Council was unanimous in its approval of the proposed tax rate increases introduced by Arlington City Administrator Allen Johnson on Monday, Dec. 19, Council members Dick Butner, Marilyn Oertle and Steve Baker voted against the budget concessions
obtained through collective bargaining negotiations with Arlington police officers and firefighters. The trio then voted against the adoption of the 2012 budget later that same meeting, turning the vote count into a 4-3 passage of the budget. Johnson advocated for the 0.1 percent public safety sales tax on the grounds that the state has proposed to take $90 million in sales tax proceeds from the cities, which would further impact Arlington
public safety programs that Johnson described as understaffed and saddled with significant equipment needs. “With the sales tax, it’s not just Arlington taxpayers who are paying for it,” Johnson said. “A lot of our policing involves policing people from out of town. This way, everyone who spends money in this town will pay for it.” While the public safety sales tax does not have a sunset clause, the utility tax increases are set to sunset
“There’s plenty to hate in this budget for everybody. I don’t like it, but it’s the best we can do.” Chris Raezer Arlington City Council in three years. Electrical would increase to 6 percent, while cable TV and garbage would increase to 8 percent each, from their previous rates of 5 percent each.
The public safety sales tax increase is expected to generate $70,000 in 2012 and $300,000 in 2013, and the utility tax increases are SEE BUDGET, PAGE 2
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