2018 Legislative Review Representative Mike Steele 12th Legislative District District Office: Dear Friends and Neighbors, 216 E. Woodin Ave., Suite 3 Successes and disappointments. That’s probably the best way to describe Chelan, WA 98816 the 2018 session. Some successes include the projected $2.3 billion increase in state revenues. We also stopped the capital gains tax and the District Phone: carbon tax, and found a solution for Hirst. Direct Line | (509) 888-4846 Disappointments, in that more was not done to return money to Capitol Office: hard-working taxpayers. Measures which would have provided meaning- 122F Legislative Building ful property tax relief this year (2018) were each defeated. P.O. Box 40600 This newsletter offers a brief look at some of the major outcomes of the Olympia, WA 98504-0600 2018 session. If you have any questions or need further information, [email protected] please feel free to call my office or send me an email. Thank you for allowing me to represent you in Olympia! Capitol Phone: Toll Free | (800) 562-6000 Sincerely, Direct Line | (360) 786-7832 U S - - C A N A D I A N B O R D E R Web Page: RepresentativeMikeSteele.com Rep. Mike Steele, R-Chelan Mazama 12th Legislative District 20 Committees: 6th Ave N Winthrop Capital Budget Omak Twisp 20 Stehekin Okanogan Education OKANOGAN COUNTY Omak Lake Okanogan River Technology and Nespelem 153 Brewster Columbia River Economic Development Lake Pateros 173 Pateros Elmer City Lake Chelan Coulee Dam Bridgeport CHELAN COUNTY Grand 97 Coulee Electric Chelan DOUGLAS COUNTY City Lake Entiat Lake Wenatchee Manseld 971 155 207 17 Banks 2 Rd NE X Lake The 12th District includes all of Withrow Entiat Waterville 172 2 Hartline Leavenworth Chelan and Douglas Counties, a Peshastin Orondo 2 Coulee City Dryden 2 Cashmere Lake major portion of Okanogan County Lenore 97 East Wenatchee Wenatchee Soap Lake Soap Lake and a part of northwest Grant County. Rock Island Ephrata GRANT COUNTY Representative Mike Steele Funding for K-12 schools Transportation budget Since the state Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary ruling, provides funding to keep the which found the state was not 12th District moving meeting its obligation to fully fund education, we have nearly • $4.3 million for realignment of the intersection doubled what the state spends between State Route 150 and No-See-Um Road. on K-12 education. In the 2011- • $2.1 million for State Route 28 and State Route 285 12 school year, our state spent an average of $6,639 per in the Wenatchee area. pupil. In 2019-20, that number is projected to be $11,996. • $2 million for replacement of Goodwin Bridge in This year, the Legislature took another big step forward by in- Cashmere. creasing teacher and administrative salaries by $776 million. • $400,000 for improvements to the Wenatchee Going beyond McCleary Confluence Parkway. What’s next for our schools? We need to refocus efforts to • $280,000 for improvements to the Woodin Avenue improve student outcomes by working on lowering dropout Bridge in Chelan. rates, expanding support for vulnerable student populations and investing in Career and Technical Education programs. No carbon tax! Bringing home capital The carbon tax and its related burdens on households and employers was defeated during the final weeks construction projects of session. For individuals and families who would have As a member of the House Capital Budget Committee, paid for this tax at the gas pump, electricity hikes and in I’m pleased to have helped secure nearly $44 mil- heating bills, this is a big win. lion in both the capital budget and the supplemental capital budget for a number of important projects in No capital gains income tax! the 12th District, including: With more than $2.3 billion projected in new tax revenue coming to the state, it’s difficult to believe some lawmakers • $4.8 million for Wenatchee’s Miller Street are still asking for more in taxes. This year, policymakers realignment and storm drain repairs. introduced another capital gains tax proposal. Thankfully, • $2.8 million for Wells Hall replacement at House Bill 2967 failed to pass. Wenatchee Valley College. • $1.6 million for the Wenatchee-Chiwawa Irrigation District. • $1 million for the Chelan County Emergency Operations Center. • $753,000 for the Columbia Valley Community Health Clinic in Chelan. • $556,000 for the Chelan County Waste Facility. Property tax relief • $400,000 for acquisition of the Castle Rock/ This year, I supported a measure that would have provided Saddle Rock area for trails near Wenatchee. property tax owners who already paid all or a portion of • $350,000 for the Wenatchee Water Resource their property taxes in 2018 with a refund. Inventory Area (related to Hirst). Disappointingly, the bill did not pass. Instead, the approved • $80,000 for replacement of the Lake Chelan budget gives just 30 cents for every $1,000 of assessed State Park moorage dock pilings. value in tax relief, for one year only (2019). For the average $300,000 home, that is approximately $90 in savings. 2018 Legislative Review Ensuring accessibility for trained service animals Wins in 2018 session My bill, signed into law in March, makes it a civil infraction, with a No major tax increases. $500 fine, to misrepresent your pet as a service animal. The idea came 9 Hirst solution signed into law. from a local business owner who asked 9 me to do something about these types Capital budget approved. of abuses. Untrained animals can cause 9 New investments in mental havoc in places of business like restau- 9 health facilities. rants, stores and hotels. Action taken to address our While drafting House Bill 2822, I worked 9 state’s growing opioid crisis. closely with the Human Rights Commis- sion, governor’s office and members of the disabled community. In fact, several disabled people came to Olympia to testify on behalf of the measure. It’s Disappointments exciting to see this law put in place that No real property tax relief in 2018. will help protect the unique status of 2 Republicans proposed bills to provide authentic service animals. meaningful relief this year. None of the measures were allowed to move forward. Hirst solution No bill to clarify the prohibition of local Within the first two weeks of the session, we successfully 2 income tax. negotiated a solution to the state Supreme Court’s Hirst Amendment providing $30 million in decision and passed both the fix and a capital budget. 2 funding to place school resource officers As you may recall, Hirst slowed or stopped economic de- at every K-12 public school to help protect velopment in many parts of rural Washington and had the students defeated. potential to cause a huge tax shift to those who own proper- House Bill 6199, forcing in-home ties with access to water. 2 caregivers to join the union and pay The Hirst fix, Senate Bill 6091, grandfathers in existing wells dues, even if they previously opted out, and removes the mandate the state Supreme Court imposed approved by the Legislature. Many of on counties to find legal, available water. This is a big win for these caregivers are taking care of family property rights in Washington state. members and cannot afford these fees. 12th District office open to serve you! Although the Legislature is only in session a few months each year, I work for you year-round. Citizens from throughout the 12th Legislative District are invited to come by my office, ask questions and share their concerns and ideas about state government. Also, a quick access direc- tory of state and local government phone numbers and web pages is included with this newsletter. Rep. Mike Steele enjoys a discussion in the House Technology and Economic Development Committee, 2018. Representative 2018 Mike Steele Legislative Review 122F Legislative Building 12th Legislative District P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 LD 12 Representative Mike Steele 2018 Government Guide Information on County Government Lt. Governor Chelan County - co.chelan.wa.us (360) 786-7700 the Legislature Board of Commissioners Website – ltgov.wa.gov Information about the Legislature is as close as (509) 667-6215 Secretary of State your laptop, tablet or smartphone. With so many Douglas County - douglascountywa.net (360) 902-4151 ways to stay informed on issues important to Board of Commissioners Website – sos.wa.gov you, I encourage you to get involved with your (509) 745-8537 state and local government. Please contact State Treasurer me any time you have questions, comments or Okanogan County - okanogancounty.org (360) 902-9001 concerns. Board of Commissioners Website – tre.wa.gov (509) 422-7100 Attorney General Legislature Grant County - grantcountywa.gov (360) 753-6200 Board of Commissioners Toll free | (800) 562-6000 Website – atg.wa.gov Website | leg.wa.gov (509) 754-2011 Superintendent of Public Instruction 12th Legislative District (360) 725-6000 Sen. Brad Hawkins | (360) 786-7622 Federal Government Website – k12.wa.us Website | senatorbradhawkins.com house.gov Commissioner of Public Lands Rep. Cary Condotta senate.gov (360) 902-1001 District Office | (509) 664-1274 Website – dnr.wa.gov Capitol Office | (360) 786-7954 Website | representativecarycondotta.com State Elected Officials Insurance Commissioner Governor Rep. Mike Steele (360) 725-7100 District Office | (509) 888-4846 (360) 902-4111 Website – insurance.wa.gov Capitol Office | (360) 786-7832 Website – governor.wa.gov Website | representativemikesteele.com.