To WSAC Members:  

Forty years ago I entered public service as a clerk typist with one goal-to serve the people of the great state of Washington. I have been blessed and humbled by the opportunities I have had in service to our state. After three terms as Attorney General and two terms as Governor we've been through some amazing triumphs and challenges together.
 
This morning (6/13) I announced that I will not seek a third term as Governor. After much thought and discussion I know it's the right decision for me and for my family. With the end of one of the most difficult and historic legislative sessions only one month behind us, there remains great work to do to move our economy forward and transform our state to meet-and exceed-the needs of a 21st Century economy. I know over the next 18 months that I must focus on that task and not on the task of running for office.
 
I first ran for office to help our kids. To protect our environment. To assure equality and fairness under the law. I ran to show that our state can value both commerce and the environment and that the two must go hand in hand. I ran to show all Washingtonians, especially young women, that the next generation can achieve anything they set their mind to-just as we did.
 
Together we've made progress. We are protecting the Puget Sound-putting it on par with the greatest bodies of water in our country. We are out ahead of the rest of the nation in reforming health care without diminishing access. We've reformed government and increased accountability. We've assured consumer protections. We invested in education, created the Department of Early Learning and established scholarship opportunities to assure all Washingtonians can graduate and succeed.
 
And together we've led through this recession. The agenda of any Governor must be to focus on the challenge at hand and this recession has presented a great challenge. Through three years of a down economy, declining revenues and increasing need we've worked together to be certain that the economic times will not define us, but that we will define our own future. Washington has always been a leader, something I've seen in my role as Chair of the National Association of Attorneys General and the National Governors Association.
 
I thank all of you for standing by me. For supporting me. For working together for our state. In politics nothing happens alone. Your support and friendship over the years will be my enduring memory. With 18 months left in this term we still have much to accomplish. Today my heart is full and my head humble. I'm ready to get to work on the task at hand.
 
Thank you for your support,
Chris 

Numbers released today require explanation

The revenue gloom continues in Washington.  Here are the key points in the forecast:

Revenue collections through June 10 were $93 million (2.5%) above what we had expected in the period since the March forecast. This surplus, however, was due to the success of the tax penalty amnesty program, which brought in $198 million more than forecasted, as well as a one-time assessment payment of $40 million. Without the extra amnesty money and other one-time large payments and refunds, collections would have been $142 million (3.8%) below the March forecast. 

For the remainder of the current biennium, collections are forecasted to be $69 million below the amount expected in March. Non-economic changes, however, have added $147 million to the forecast. The bulk of the non-economic change was the result of re-classifying near-General Fund revenue and existing fund transfers as General Fund revenue. Combining the collection surplus, non-economic changes and forecast changes, total General Fund-State revenue for the current biennium is now expected to be $171 million more than forecasted in March. 

In the next biennium, weaker near-term revenue growth is expected to bring in $223 million less revenue than forecasted in March. Non-economic changes, however, have added $40 million to forecasted collections. The non-economic changes are the net of additional legislative and budget-driven revenue and lower expected payments from audits as a result of the past-due taxes already paid under the amnesty program. The total forecast reduction for the 11-13 biennium is $183 million. 

In summary, the new General Fund-State forecasts are:
2009-11 biennium: $28.2 billion, which is $171 million higher than the previous forecast
2011-13 biennium: $31.7 billion, which is $183 million lower than the previous forecast

Read the complete forecast: http://www.erfc.wa.gov/forecast/documents/rev20110616color.pdf

Governor's annual recognition for best planning projects

This week, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced the winners of her 2011 Smart Communities Awards for creating livable communities in Washington State. Congratulations to Kitsap, Lewis and Pierce counties for their award winning projects! County winners will receive awards at the WSAC annual meeting this November in Bellevue, King County.

"Washington state needs to create and maintain vibrant communities if we want to continue to attract a strong workforce and growing businesses," Gregoire said. "I'm proud of the remarkable work that's going on across our state to balance economic growth with sustainable development."
The 12 communities recognized this year are considered models in planning for smart growth.

They have shown outstanding work in:

• Innovative and wise land use, resource management, enhanced rural preservation, water utility planning, and transportation planning;
• Effective city-county partnerships and achieving significant public participation; and
• Incorporation of public safety and community gathering places, density supporting transportation, and reducing vehicle miles traveled, and downtown revitalization as key components of their growth plans.

"The forward-thinking leadership demonstrated by these communities is part of what makes Washington a great place to live and do business," said Department of Commerce Director Rogers Weed.  "Sustainable and smart growth protects valuable resources and improves our quality of life."

The Governor has rewarded outstanding local planning efforts through the Smart Communities Awards since 2006. The Smart Communities Awards are administered by the Growth Management Program at the Washington State Department of Commerce. For more information on the Governor's Smart Communities Awards or the Growth Management Act, visit www.commerce.wa.gov/growth. 

2011 Governor's Smart Communities Award Winners

Smart Vision Award - Comprehensive Planning
Kitsap County, "Kitsap County Year of the Rural"
City of Olympia, "Imagine Olympia Public Participation Program"
City of Poulsbo, "Poulsbo 2009 Comprehensive Plan"

Smart Choices Award - Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
City of Vader and Lewis County, "Lewis County/City of Vader Water Project"·
City of Chelan, "Chelan Downtown Land Use and Development Code"
City of Bothell, "Downtown Subarea Plan Implementation"

Smart Partnerships Award - Development Project to Implement a Plan
Pierce County, "Bridge To The Beach Project"
City of Hoquiam, "Downtown Revitalization Project"
City of Walla Walla, "Washington Park Gathering Place"

Judges' Merit Award
City of Waitsburg, "City of Waitsburg Downtown Revitalization Project"
City of Mukilteo, "Mukilteo Green City Buildings - Capital Facilities Policies Implementation"

WSAC congratulates all of the winning communities!

WSAC Members Elected to PSRC Leadership 

Earlier this month, Commissioner Josh Brown, Kitsap County, and Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy were elected President and Vice President, respectively, of the Puget Sound Regional Council. Both have served in other positions for the regional planning agency.

The General Assembly of the Puget Sound Regional Council includes elected representation from all the members of the PSRC, including counties, cities, towns, state agencies, transit agencies, ports, and Tribal Governments.

WSAC Member Selected to Serve

Governor Gregoire has appointed Commissioner Rob Coffman, Lincoln County to a two-year term on the statewide Emergency Medical Services/Trauma Care Steering Committee. The committee reviews regional EMS and trauma care plans and advises the state Department of Health before the adoption of those plans and on related needs throughout the state. Thanks to Commissioner Coffman for his interest in serving the Association in this capacity.

Member and Partner Retirements

WSAC would like to acknowledge the following member and partners who are retiring:

• Rose Elway, Grays Harbor Budget Director - After 30 years of service to her county, Rose will retire June 30. Retirement event invitation
• Deborah Wilke, Executive Director of the Washington Association of County Officials (WACO) will retire on June 30 after 18 years with the association.
• Rich Yukubousky, Executive Director of the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC), will retire July 14, ending a 21-year run with MRSC. To RSVP for his July 14, 3-7 pm open house retirement event call (206) 625-1300.

Best wishes to all of you!

Pend Oreille County Celebrates Centennial

Pend Oreille County Commissioner John Hankey

On June 1, Pend Oreille County held a community-wide celebration for its first 100 years. Elected officials dressed in period costumes and presided over a BBQ picnic, auction, art content and presentations. View the photo gallery

Garfield County to Unveil Courthouse Renovation

On Friday, June 24 Garfield County will rededicate its courthouse, which has undergone a top to bottom overhaul and has been beautifully updated and restored. WSAC members are invited to attend the ceremony and reception, and tour the building.

County Scholarship Winners

Recipients of the 2011-12 Washington Counties Scholarship Fund include higher education-bound students of county employees from Walla Walla and Chelan counties, among others. See complete list

Hearings on Ecosystem Recovery Targets to be held this week

The Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) is creating targets for the recovery of Puget Sound. The Leadership Council is considering a number of targets for adoption today and tomorrow, June 16-17th, during its meeting in Seattle at the Seattle Aquarium (see this link for agenda and address: http://www.psp.wa.gov/downloads/LC2011/06162011/agenda.php). Public comments will be heard during the meeting, before the Council's discussion of each topic.

Neil Aaland, WSAC's Puget Sound Partnership Coordinator, is attending these meeting on behalf of WSAC member counties. Contact Neil

 
The ecosystem recovery targets for 2020 will be based in science, and will describe the desired future conditions of human health and well-being, species and food webs, habitats, water quantity, and water quality. Overall, the targets describe what Puget Sound would look like in 2020, reflecting what is achievable in this timeframe, and align with the Partnership's mission to recover the ecosystem by 2020.  Setting targets is a critical part of the update to the Action Agenda, which is also scheduled for completion during 2011. By statute, the near-term strategies and actions described in the Action Agenda must be updated every two years. These targets will help the Partnership to refine and prioritize strategies and actions in the Action Agenda.
 

The PSP held five workshops in April and May on proposed targets, and the targets were discussed at a special meeting of the Ecosystem Conservation Board (ECB) at the end of May.

WSAC Executive Board and staff take listening tour on the road

Whatcom County Courthouse

The WSAC Executive Officers along with association staff will be visiting up to half of Washington's counties during 2011 to hear from members their issues, concerns and ideas related to their county and to WSAC.

Visits to Island, Skagit, Whatcom and Okanogan counties have been completed. The second round of visits will occur next week in Asotin, Lincoln and Stevens counties.

Officers and staff would like to thank all the participating counties for their time and input. If you have questions about upcoming visits or scheduling a visit, please contact Sarah Bright. 

Thanks to the following businesses and organizations who support our asssociation and Washington's counties through their new or renewing membership this month:

New Partners
CenturyLink
Union Pacific

Renewing Partners
Foster Pepper PLLC
Sanitary Service Company, Inc.
S.C. Communications
Waste Connections, Inc.

More information about WSAC's Business Partners Program

Findings will be ready soon

The Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) and WSU Extension Task Force on "Restructuring and Refinement" continues to make good progress. At their June 2 meeting, the focus of the Task Force was an intensive review of a "white paper" and numerous recommendations to the four key points of the "charge" to the Task Force by WSU Dean and Director Dan Bernardo at the first meeting in February: 

1. Assess and recommend improvements to a model of equitable distribution of Extension faculty, staff and program resources.
2. Consider alternative local funding models to sustain an optimum mix of local funds with university-provided federal and state resources.
3. Propose modification to the geographic deployment of faculty and staff resources, including consideration of non-county government local partners such as branch campuses of WSU, the Agriculture Research and Extension Centers, non-governmental organizations, etc.
4. Look at alternative governance and administrative structures. 

The Task Force is on target to meet the mid-June deadline to report findings to the leadership of WSAC and WSU. Watch for announcements regarding recommendations and implementation plans.

State Implementation moves ahead

Both the Governor and the legislature have put together committees to address state implementation of the Act.

Governor's Health Care Cabinet
Governor Gregoire signed an executive order April 1, 2010, to create a Health Care Cabinet. Its charge is to provide leadership and accountability for how our state implements health care reform. Cabinet members will maintain open conversations and strategic partnerships with major health care stakeholders to improve access, lower costs and get better results. They will consult with tribal, local and federal governments to obtain perspectives and feedback.
The Health Care Cabinet is tasked to:
· Conduct an in-depth analysis of the federal legislation;
· Identify the steps necessary to construct an implementation plan; and
· Design processes to maximize stakeholder and public input and to ensure transparency in implementing reform.

Members of the cabinet include executive policy staff along with individuals from the HCA, DOH, DSHS, Office of Financial Management (OFM) and the Executive Policy Office. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) has also been invited for insurance issues.
Governor's Health Care Cabinet Website: http://governor.wa.gov/priorities/healthcare/cabinet.asp

Joint Legislative Select Committee on Health Reform Implementation
The Joint Select Committee on Health Reform Implementation was reinstated by both the House and Senate in the 2011 Legislative Session. This group will continue to be co-chaired by Representative Cody and Senator Keiser, respective chairs of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee. Other members of the 2010 committee included Representative Hinkle, Representative Morrell, Senator Murray, Senator Parlette, Representative Pettigrew, Senator Pflug and Representative Schmick. I will provide updates to the committee membership as those become available.
Documents related to the meetings of the committee can be found at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/JointCommittees/HRI/Pages/Meetings.aspx

WSAC - ACHS Health Reform Update

August 8-12   Seattle, WA

2011 Summer Institute for Public Health Practice                                                                     

School of Public Health, University of Washington
More information and to register

Counties asked to contribute GIS data

Two programs seek local government applicants 

The Washington State Department of Commerce has recently announced two funding streams that are available to counties: the Public Works Fund Construction Cycle and the Innovation Partnership Zone.

The Public Works Board will conduct a competitive construction loan cycle for 2013, with an estimated total loan availability of $100 - $125 million. Eligible projects include stormwater and solid waste. Application materials will be available at the end of this month and will be due at the end of July. More information

The Department of Commerce recently released the official competitive solicitation for the 2011 Innovation Partnership Zone designation. An Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) is a unique economic development effort that partners research, workforce training, and private sector participation in close geographic proximity to promote collaboration in a research based effort that will lead to new technologies, marketable products, company formation, and job creation. There are currently 12 IPZs operating in the state of Washington.

To determine whether your jurisdiction has the capacity to develop and support an innovation partnership zone, and to view the application timeline and download application materials, go to www.choosewashington.com/business/partnership/Pages/default.aspx.

Note:  Applications are due September 1, 2011.  Don't miss the scheduled teleconferences June 27 and July 12.  If you are interested in applying, we encouraged you to review the application materials as soon as possible.  There are many required signatures to be obtained, partnerships to be formed, as well as development of a business plan.  Program staff can be contacted at IPZ@commerce.wa.gov. 

See your county's coastal land use changes

A new tool is available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NACo to help counties in coastal states visualize their land use changes over the years. This information can identify land use trends and help counties consider future planning needs. The Land Cover Atlas, developed by the NOAA Coastal Services Center's Digital Coast in partnership with NACo, accomplishes these tasks with simple, county-specific maps, charts and data. Visit www.csc.noaa.gov/landcoveratlas/ for details.
Contact: Carrie Clingan (202) 942-4246