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FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2012
Residents to vote on tax levy BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Great debate: Kent City Council members Dennis Higgins, left, and Deborah Ranniger agreed to put the property tax measure on the Nov. 6 ballot. STEVE HUNTER, Kent Reporter
Kent voters will decide Nov. 6 whether to approve a property tax levy increase to help pay for city park and street repairs. After a heated debate during a
two-hour special meeting, the Kent City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday night to send the measure to the November ballot. But with the split council vote, it could be a rough road ahead for city officials to persuade voters to pass
ShoWare gets hit with unexpected B&O tax
BACK IN THE GAME Amputee golfers shine at Riverbend
BY STEVE HUNTER
[ more TAX page 7 ]
[ more MEASURE page 4 ]
ADVANCES GET THEM BY MARK KLAAS
shunter@kentreporter.com
The city-owned ShoWare Center took a deeper loss than expected in the second quarter of this year because of an additional $100,000 business and occupation tax payable to the state Department of Revenue. “We were better than budget for the quarter and year to date we were $6,000 behind before the B&O tax,” said Patrick McCluskey, ShoWare finance director, at a Public Facilities District board meeting on July 26. “It was not in the budget so it is an unexpected expense.” The payment of McCluskey $100,000 left the ShoWare Center with financial losses of $290,741 through June of this year, about $106,000 more than the SMG projected loss of $184,430, according to the ShoWare income statement. The arena had expenses of $1.2 million through June and income of $963,000. The ShoWare Center is on the way to losing hundreds of thousands of dollars for the fourth consecutive year. The arena lost $451,723 in 2009, $398,013 in 2010 and $457,480 in 2011 for a total of more than $1.3 million. The city sets aside money in its annual capital budget to cover the losses. That money could be used for capital projects such as improvements to city streets and other facilities. ShoWare and city officials initially believed that salaries paid to SMG,
the property tax increase. Voters will be asked to approve a six-year property tax levy lid lift of 37 cents per $1,000 assessed property value or about $111 per year on a $300,000 home.
mklaas@kentreporter.com
Drive time Dunkan Nguyen, right, of the Young Cougs pushes by Cooper Campbell of the Mini Viks to deliver a layup during the ShoWare Shootout 3-on-3 basketball tournament last Sunday. The Young Cougs took first place in the third-grade age group. Story, page 10. CHARLES CORTES, Kent Reporter
Danny Stevens stands firmly on two feet, swings a smooth iron and turns heady shot-maker on the golf course come weekends. He can thank clinicians and specialists in the progressive prosthetics field for that. Stevens enjoys an active life – as a Portland-area salesman of medical equipment and as an amateur golfer with an impressive 2 handicap. “I am better than that,” he said after sending his approach shot wide of the par-4 17th hole at Kent’s Riverbend Golf Complex last Saturday. “I am much better than that shot.” Stevens is much better for someone who lost his lower right leg in a horrible accident seven years ago.
The thriving field of prosthetic technology has helped patients enjoy an active lifestyle that includes frequent rounds of golf. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter Facing serious health complications, he ultimately chose amputation. It wasn’t long before doctors and specialists got Stevens back on his feet, and back in the game. “I am doing just fine today,” he said with a smile. Stevens was one of 91 golfers who participated in the 12th annual Western [ more ADVANCES page 2 ]
Concerned neighborhoods to gather for National Night Out BY TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Pam Wells hopes that fellow residents in her Meadow Glen Townhomes community take the same attitude to safety and crime prevention that she does.
“I treat the entire property like it’s my house, my yard – even though I only own a percentage,” she said. Wells is a captain for a recently formed block watch at Meadow Glen, one of the many neighborhoods that will partici-
pate in Kent’s National Night Out event Tuesday. The festivities are part of nationwide effort to raise awareness about crime in communities and strengthen neighborhood spirit. About 103 neighborhood
events are registered with the Kent Police Department so far. Registration closes today. This is the 29th anniversary of National Night Out events across the country and the 27th year for activities in Kent. [ more NNO page 9 ]