What will Dean Carlson do?

There is no good reason that should know the name, Dean Carlson (no offense). But it appears that I have seen Mr. Carlson read bill reports to legislators for the past few years, most of them saying almost the same thing about Lodging taxes and arts funding.

Then, I would see either the Senate spreadsheet of columns in blank and white, or the house spreadsheet with the red and blue arrows showing the endings and beginnings of funds.

At some point there would be a question about rental car tax credits. Folks from Yakima would testify and request inclusion in the bill, since they participate in using the "stadium" tax in Yakima. Yakima got screwed.

On Wednesday, June 15th, the governor is scheduled to sign the Arts funding bill, SB 5834.

What will Dean Carlson do now that he doesn't have the recurring arts bill and stadium funding spreadsheets?
I'm thinking I'm going to see Mr. Carlson, or somebody else from committee Staff, read the new Professional Athlete's Fee bill next session (and hopefully just next session).

Senate Bill 5834 passed the Washington State Legislature, now what?

First off, and straight up, I am very happy for 4Culture. They worked very hard to get this bill passed, thanks for asking for a little advice, I'm glad to give it, but it was all you (as was mentioned by some legislators on the House floor).
Well done.

King County is better because of your good work and we might all benefit.

To the sports fans that appear to be heavy readers of my blog, whatcha gonna do now?
The 2% Hotel/motel tax goes back to the control of King County after Qwest Field is paid off in 2021. 1/4 of the tax revenue is to be used for tourism infrastructure.

(vi) . . . On and after January 1, 2021, the revenues under this section must be used as follows:
(i) At least thirty-seven and one-half percent of the revenues under this section must be deposited in the special account under (e) of this subsection. [that's arts, heritage, 4Culture, etc]
(ii) At least thirty-seven and one-half percent of the revenues under this section must be used for nonprofit organizations or public housing authorities for affordable workforce housing within one-half of a mile of a transit station, as described under RCW 9.91.025 or for services for homeless youth. [just as it says, though I expect King County to use part of this to fund the program that gets teenage prostitutes off the streets]
(iii) The remainder must be used for capital or operating programs that promote tourism and attract tourists to the county. [well, that is 25% of $25 million dollars, and rises with inflation] SB 5834

So, will there be a battle over the 25% (iii) to be the public portion of an arena in Bellevue, Seattle, new or remodel, slow on the uptake Seattle, or overreaching Bellevue.

Sung Yang, you might not remember this, but, when we all had lunch last Fall I mentioned to you that I would support my friends in the arts community.
Dow Constantine might not have gotten what he wanted, but he got something to work with. I trust him to make the most of it.

Lastly, I have had the opportunity to give a few people words of encouragement in reference to these many bills, over the past couple years. All are meaning well, all hoping for anything, well, this is something.

An Amended Senate Bill SSB 5834 Passes the Senate, on to the House

An Amended Senate Bill SSB 5834 passed the Senate, on to the House.

As it stands, after Seahawks Stadium is paid off in 2021 (or sooner), 1/3 of the money goes to arts and heritage, 1/3 goes to workforce housing and/or to support homeless youth, and 1/3 goes to promoting tourism that attracts people to the county.

In 2021 that revenue is projected to be $25,567,000 (cut it up into 3rds).
To see what the 2% hotel tax looks like going into the future, please check out the spreadsheet used to explain (the now dead) HB 1997 here.
7th column from the right, under the blue HB 1997 bar is a bright red arrow pointing to $25,567,000 in 2021.
Yes, that is a lot of money.
No, there isn't a sunset clause in the bill.

Yes, it still goes to the House for a vote.

SB 5958, King County bill for Arts and Convention Center funding Fails in Senate, 24 to 22

Failed. The people of Yakima County can thank Republican Senator Curtis King for the loss of tax revenue for your fairgrounds.
The people of King County can thank The Demicrats that voted with the Republicans for the loss of tax revenue for your convention center, Kastima, Sheldon (Roll Call).

SB 5834 is still on the Senate Floor Calendar. That bill does not have "stadium" taxes in it. That bill passed the Senate once already, during the Regular Session.

I think Senate will pass SB 5834 again.
It should be clear to the House that if SB 5958 failed then it is essentially pointless to pass HB 1997 again. Those two bills are darn near the same, the Senate bill being slightly more conservative.

If the House has any desire to pass anything they probably should minimize over prescribing the uses of the Hotel tax, and maybe just pass the bill as is.

Another King County arts bill, SB 5958

[self-editor's note, I'm recycling a prior post, get over it]
The Special Session rewound the clock. Here are a couple bills I am watching.

The first bill is the the Hotel Tax (only) version of the Arts bill, SSB 5834.
The reality is that the hotel tax keeps going with or without this legislation. What this bill does do is allow 4Culture to bridge its operating budget by spending down part of its endowment until Qwest (yes, I still call it Qwest) Stadium is paid off in 2021, then 4Culture gets a slice of the revenue after that. King County controls the rest of the revenue, for tourism investments.

What I like about this bill is its brevity. This bill gives King County some discretion (within existing state law) to make tourism investments around King County. I'm not sure why legislators from around the state think they know the best uses for these taxes starting a DECADE from now, and feel compelled to prescribe how every penny is spent, forever.
If a bill does not pass, then the revenue keeps going and control shift to the cities first, then the county. The revenue would get splintered, and 4Culture would pretty much die.

The second bill is a King County stimulus bill, SB 5958 (another version of HB 1997, HB 2912, etc). It is the dressed up as the arts bill, the Convention Center bill, what it is at its most basic element is a stimulus bill.
This bill extends the Food and Beverage tax to 2015, and that money accelerates the start of the Washington State Convention Center's expansion. The bill also provides funding for workforce housing in and around transit centers (the convention center expands over the Metro Transit property).

I would rather have SB give up $100,000 to the state affordable housing fund, and $100,000 to the state arts and heritage fund, both drawn from the state tax credit on the car rental tax.

I would prefer that SB 5958 were simplified so that over the next decade King County had the flexibility to determine for itself what tourism related infrastructure investments to make, and not have their hands tied by some state representative from some other part of the state that really doesn't care what happens in King County.

SB 5958 has a hearing on May 17, 2011, Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Tribal Relations & Elections at 1:30 PM. (Subject to change)

Advocates4Culture will be there to testify.

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While we are skimming money off King County and spreading it around the state

How about them arts?
So, the Washington State Legislature will return on Tuesday for a Special Session, fact.
The House version of the operating budget bill HB 1087 has $100,000 going from the King County arts, heritage, and affordable housing bill, HB 1997 to the state's affordable housing fund, fact.
This does not appear to be in the Senate's amended version of HB 1087.
The two versions need to be reconciled, hopefully keeping HB 1997 alive and necessary for implementing the budget (House version), and that bill will get passed.

What I am wondering is why $100,000 wasn't skimmed off for the state's arts and heritage appropriation? It's not like I am looking for less money for King County, but, mmmm, I'm thinking that those if us in King County that car about arts would understand that expenditure. Maybe the funds could would have to be administered by a King County non-profit to be spent in the state and outside of King County.
Just askin' think about it, come on, really think about it.

Word to Advocate4Culture.org (thanks for the kind words), to this point, I believe it is HB 1997 that is alive, and SB5834 is not alive as it does not have a housing component and was not specifically identified in a budget bill.
So there.

And now something "Special"

King County Arts Bills Move to Committees, HB 1997, SB 5834

The Washington State Legislature passed two bills that would help fund King County Arts. Senate Bill SB 5834 has moved from the Senate to the House Ways & Means Committee. House Bill HB 1997 has moved from the House to the Senate Committee on Economic Development Trade & Innovation.

HB 1997 has a Hearing in the Senate committee on Thursday, at 1:30pm.
This bill would fund King County Arts programs, workforce housing around the Washington State Convention Center, as well as jump-start the expansion of the convention Center.

SB 5834 was was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee, but has not yet been placed on an agenda.
This bill just extends the Hotel tax, and part of the revenue fundsArts in King County.

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King County Arts Bill Passes House, HB 1997, Moves on to the Senate

A bill that would help fund King County Arts, as well as jump-start the expansion of the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle passed the House Friday night. HB 1997 moves on to the Senate for consideration.

A similar bill, though smaller in scope, SB 5834, has been placed on the Legislative Floor Calendar, currently waiting for a vote in the Senate.

HB 1997, "Providing economic development by funding tourism promotion, workforce housing, art and heritage programs, and community development."

Sponsors: Representatives Orwall, Kenney, Goodman, Fitzgibbon, Maxwell, Santos, Pedersen

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SHB 1997
Economic development/funding
House vote on Final Passage
3/4/2011

Yeas: 55   Nays: 42   Absent: 0   Excused: 1

Voting Yea:  Representatives Anderson, Appleton, Asay, Billig, Blake, Carlyle, Clibborn, Cody, Darneille, Dickerson, Dunshee, Eddy, Finn, Fitzgibbon, Frockt, Goodman, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Jacks, Jinkins, Kagi, Kenney, Kirby, Ladenburg, Liias, Lytton, Maxwell, McCoy, Miloscia, Moeller, Moscoso, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Reykdal, Roberts, Rolfes, Ryu, Santos, Seaquist, Sells, Springer, Stanford, Sullivan, Takko, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, and Mr. Speaker
Voting Nay:  Representatives Ahern, Angel, Armstrong, Bailey, Buys, Chandler, Condotta, Crouse, Dahlquist, Dammeier, DeBolt, Fagan, Hargrove, Harris, Hinkle, Hope, Hurst, Johnson, Kelley, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, McCune, Morris, Nealey, Orcutt, Overstreet, Parker, Pearson, Probst, Rivers, Rodne, Ross, Shea, Schmick, Short, Smith, Taylor, Walsh, Warnick, Wilcox, and Zeiger
Absent:  
Excused:  Representative Alexander

 
The following message was sent to Representative Ross Hunter (D) of the 48th district.
TO:   Representative Ross Hunter
  
FROM:   Mr. Michael Baker
  
STREET ADDRESS:   Xxxxxxxxxx
  
EMAIL:   Communicate.with.Mike  gmail.com
  
PHONE:   (206)
  
BILL:   1997 (For)
  
SUBJECT:   Well done
  
MESSAGE:   Good work on the bill tonight. I am glad to see it pass the House as-is. I hope the Senate is able to get finish something that has proved to be so difficult over the past few years. 

Have a great day, 
Mike Baker 
Seattle, Wa
  
RESPONSE:   No response required by the sender.

King County Arts and Heritage Bills Inch Ahead

Both HB 1997 and SB 5834 passed out of their respective Rules Committees.
Both have been placed on the Legislative Floor Calendar, currently waiting for voting (HB 1997 in the House, SB 5834 in the Senate).
Not sure when either one will have votes taken. SB 5834 was placed on the Senate Floor Calendar today, HB 1997 was placed on Monday.

I have added a little scroll window on this page to show bill updates.

HB 1997, "Providing economic development by funding tourism promotion, workforce housing, art and heritage programs, and community development."

Sponsors: Representatives Orwall, Kenney, Goodman, Fitzgibbon, Maxwell, Santos, Pedersen

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King County Arts Bills move on to Rules Committee for placement on the Floor Calendars

Both HB 1997 and SB 5834 passed out of their respective Ways & Means Committees on February 25, 2011. Both await placement on the Floor Calendar, currently residing in Rules Committee (HB 1997 in the House, SB 5834 in the Senate).

HB 1997, "Providing economic development by funding tourism promotion, workforce housing, art and heritage programs, and community development."

Sponsors: Representatives Orwall, Kenney, Goodman, Fitzgibbon, Maxwell, Santos, Pedersen

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Friday is Last Call for Bills in Committee to move out of Committee

Friday, February 25th, is the cutoff day for bills to move out of their originating legislative committee.

4Culture has been advocating for the passage of a bill promoted by King County Executive Dow Constantine, that's House Bill 1997

HB 1997 is on the House Ways & Means agenda for Executive Session (vote), as it was the day before when it saw "No Action".
It will likely pass, but will it matter?

Tonight, February 24th, in the Senate Ways & Means Committee we had Senate Bill 5834 pass out of committee.
Senate Bill 5834.

AN ACT Relating to permitting counties to direct an existing portion of local lodging taxes to programs for arts and heritage; and amending RCW 67.28.180.

This bill extends the 2% Hotel Tax for Arts and Heritage through 2020. In 2021 when bonds this tax is paying off end the bill directs 37 and 1/2% to keep going to Arts and Heritage, and the rest, well, whatever RCW 67.28.180 covers.

SB 5834 received one amendment coming out of committee, that was to include Yakima County to keep its tax going, too. For whatever reason Senator Ed Murray keeps forgetting this detail, last year it was SB 6051 that was missing Yakima in a "clerical error".

No matter, SB 5834 is out of committee, and will move on to the Senate Rules Committee that will then place that bill on the Senate Floor Calendar. Once on the Floor, it is subject to amendments, where it could become the vessel to hold (cherry pick) items out of HB 1997, or not. Maybe it stays a single issue bill, it passes, and it least the Arts gets funding and the county gets something to invest in tourism infrastructure in 2021.

If I remember correctly, two years ago this drama played out in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on March 18th, where HB 2252 (HB 1997 without the Convention Center) went to die. That bill was replaced by SB 6116. SB 6116 died at the last minute of the 2009 session, on the Senate Floor, with the Striker Amendment stripping out Husky Stadium, 5 minutes too late.

This time I think we will see two bills go as far as either possibly can, with something passing. The "bill hostage" method just hasn't worked out so well in the past.

Tickity-Tock, cutoff deadlines are listed below.

February 25, 2011 Last day to read in committee reports from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees in house of origin.

March 7, 2011 Last day to consider bills in house of origin (5 p.m.).

March 25, 2011 Last day to read in committee reports from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.

April 1, 2011 Last day to read in opposite house committee reports from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.

April 12, 2011* Last day to consider opposite house bills (5 p.m.) (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).

April 24, 2011 Last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.
Pass something.

King County: proposed state bill to help draw more visitors and conventions to King County

On Friday, Washington State Representative Tina Orwall (D-33) introduced House Bill 1997.

In a statement from the King County Executive's Office the bill was described thusly:

Business, labor and arts leaders joined today in backing a bill requested by King County Executive Dow Constantine and introduced today in Olympia by State Rep. Tina Orwall to stimulate economic growth through support of programs that draw more tourists here.

"Every visitor we bring to King County spends money and provides revenues needed to support human services, housing, public safety, and transportation," said Executive Constantine. "As the economy begins to recover, we need to do all we can to position the region for economic prosperity."