‘SCREENING’ PROCESS | Students at Lindbergh get a hands-on learning experience in graphic design. [3]
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‘GET MY BALL BACK!’ | The Indians defense led the way in a 40-13 win in Renton football’s home opener. [Sports 12]
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19, 2014
City lowers proposed B&O tax rate by half Changes to proposal come in response to concerns from business community BY BRIAN BECKLEY bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
Day of service Hundreds of Renton residents of all ages turned out Saturday for the fifth annual Day of Service. Volunteers worked on 32 projects around the city, including these at the Cedar River Off-Leash Dog Park. IMAGES COURTESY CITY OF RENTON
After meeting with members of the business community to discuss a new business and operation tax, the City has cut the proposed tax rate in half, but also lowered the reporting threshold in an attempt to broaden the tax base. Under a new proposal headed to the City Council Oct. 6, the City of Renton’s new B&O tax rate would be 0.05 percent on all retail business and 0.085 percent on all other activities with a reporting threshold of $1.5 million in revenues per year. Originally, staff proposed a rate of 0.1 percent on all receipts of more than $5 million, but business leaders asked the city to make the change in order to spread the cost out among more of the city’s businesses. The goal is to fill a projected budget gap of $3.3 million expected in the next biennium’s budget, created in part due to the 2001 cap on revenues passed by voters. City officials have previously said that since the recession began in 2008, the city has cut $28.7 million out [ more B&O page 5 ]
County leaders, residents sound off on race, law enforcement It’s hard talk, a sensitive conversation and one King County and community leaders welcome. A public forum to openly discuss county law enforcement’s relationship with diverse neighborhoods it serves jammed a Tyee High School cafeteria in SeaTac this past week. The topic? Can Ferguson, Missouri happen here? Residents of surrounding cities say Ferguson is here. Law enforcement authorities acknowledge that it could happen. And both sides are calling for ways to debate, build and improve working ties between police and ethnic communities. Several citizens took turns voicing their concerns, fears and objections to how the King County Sheriff ’s Office approaches its work, especially now, in wake of Michael Brown’s death. Brown, an unarmed African-American teenager,
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was shot to death by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in the streets of Ferguson on Aug. 9, a controversial incident that has led to protests, hostilities and arrests in the St. Louis suburb. Witness reports differ greatly as to whether Brown was surrendering with his hands up or moving toward Wilson when the final shots were fired. The shooting served as a backdrop for the county-led forum Wednesday that featured a panel of authorities, community advocates and agency officials – including King County Sheriff John Urquhart and King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg – who fielded questions from the crowd. Both sides agree that tensions exist, and something needs to be done to soothe them. “The reality is because of Ferguson and events like Ferguson that happen all across the country, the thought is, ‘Is this the day I’m going to be shot?’” [ more FERGUSON page 5 ]
King County Sheriff John Urquhart, right, with King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, fields questions from the crowd at the Sept. 10 community forum. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter
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BY MARK KLAAS mklaas@kentreporter.com