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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013
Vol. CXXIII, No. 245
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
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Gov. Inslee unveils supplemental budget proposal
Images Courtesy Governor's Office Washington State Governor Jay Inslee this week unveiled his supplemental budget proposal outlining modest adjustments to the state's 2013–15 operating budget. "The good news is, our economy continues its slow, steady recovery from the worst recession in generations," said Inslee (pictured below right). "Unfortunately, the economy and our revenue collections are not growing fast enough to keep pace with the costs of maintaining current services, let alone provide the billions of dollars still needed to meet our courtmandated basic education obligations. This is a hold-steady budget that keeps us whole the remainder of the biennium, but we'll have to make some tough decisions again next year." The bulk of the added spending in the governor's supplemental budget covers a variety of mandatory cost increases, meets legal or contractual obligations and continues delivering services at current levels. About one-third of those mandatory cost increases are driven by rising school enrollment and
Tacoma seeks bids for bikeway improvement project Posted online Weds., Dec. 18 The City of Tacoma Tuesday issued a request for bids on the second phase of Tacoma's Top 4 Bikeways Project, an aspect of the city's Mobility Master Plan that aims to improve the city's bicycle network and general pedestrian accessibility by installing new pavement markings, signage, asphalt and concrete pavements, curbs and gutters, and pedestrian flashing beacons. The project budget is estimated at approximately $1.64 million. A pre-bid meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Tues., Jan. 7, 2014, in Room 537, Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St. Bids will be received until 11 a.m. on Tues., Jan. 14, 2014. More information is available online at cityoftacoma.org.
Rate increase for Pierce County Ferry passengers program caseloads. The budget also includes $8 million to begin complying with a legal settlement requiring the state to significantly expand mental health services for children; $10 million to fund a collectively bargained rate increase for family home child care providers; and $11 million to cover wildfire costs, primarily last season's. The budget also addresses several high-priority needs such as almost $7 million to increase prison capacity, most of which will be used to open a medium-security unit at the Washington State Penitentiary. The governor is proposing several small investments in education, such as $3 million for a new teacher mentoring program, $300,000 to develop new career and technical education curricula that will provide students multiple paths to meet math and science graduation requirements and $250,000 for an early warning dropout prevention program. The budget also makes targeted investments to enhance science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM education in the K-12 and community college systems. Inslee urged the Legislature to adopt the budget in timely fashion, noting that the state must soon turn its attention to the next biennial budget. Governor Inslee's proposed 2014 supplemental budget and policy highlights can be found online at ofm.wa.gov/budget14/press_packet.pdf.
Posted online Thurs., Dec. 19 Photo Courtesy Pierce County Pierce County officials announced Thursday fares to ride the Pierce County Ferry will increase by 3 percent next year and again in 2015 across all rider categories except for youth. The new 2014 rates go into effect Jan. 1. The cost for an adult to walk on the ferry will increase from $5 to $5.15, while a vehicle 21 feet or less will increase from $16.80 to $17.30 in the non-peak season and from $21 to $21.65 in peak season. The cost for youth ages 6 to 18 to walk on the ferry will remain at $3.40. The five-trip Commuter Pass will be renamed the Value Pass, and will cost $20.60 year-round for walk-on passengers, up from $20. The year-round pass for vehicles 21 feet or less will increase from $67.15 to $69.15. Single tickets purchased in 2013 will expire on Dec. 31. The five-trip Commuter Pass purchased in 2013 will continue to be valid for 40 days from date of purchase until the expiration date indicated on each ticket. "This two-step increase is needed to help cover increased operational and maintenance expenses," said Deb Wallace, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities airport and ferry administrator. The Pierce County ferry system provides service between the town of Steilacoom and Anderson and Ketron islands. More information is available online at piercecountywa.org/ferry.
NOTE TO READERS
In observance of Christmas Day, the Tacoma Daily Index will not be published on Weds., Dec. 25. Publication will resume on Thurs., Dec. 26. Have a safe holiday.