Program Planning Alert

By Peggy Saari, Program Chair

The planning process for LWVWA 2001-2002 Program began at the State League Council in June 2000. At that time the leaders of local leagues generated a list of program topics for possible consideration. Further discussion at the Board Retreat in August pointed out the need for grassroots participation and the importance of the "inclusiveness" of any list provided to local leagues for their discussions. As a result, I have decided to include items on the list that were mentioned but not chosen at recent conventions and to ask you, the members, for early input. These possible topics will be added to the list for consideration at your grassroots program planning discussions. As your new Program Chair, I want members to start thinking about Study, Action or Citizen Education topics for consideration in making your Program recommendation to the State Board and to the LWVWA Convention 2001. Please send your suggestions by email, FAX, or regular mail by October 15th to: Peggy Saari, Program Chair, State League Office. Thank you for your efforts to maintain grassroots participation in the League of Women Voters.

The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund
Invites you to our Fall Luncheon Event
A Delicate Balance: Trees & Schools
A Panel Discussion

&

Presentation of the League's Good In Government Award

Thursday, November 9, 2000 - 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
WestCoast Grand Hotel (formerly Cavanaugh's on Fifth Avenue)
1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington

Facilitator ?Karen Verrill, former president, League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund

Panel Members

Jennifer Belcher, Commissioner of Public Lands
Marcy Golde, Washington Environmental Council
Professor Bruce Lippke, U of W College of Forestry
William Wilkerson, Washington Forest Protection Association

$35 LWV Members - $50 Non-members - $400 Tables of Eight

RSVP by November 1, 2000
LWVWA Tel: 206-622-8961 - Event Registrar George Beykovsky: jirkohb@juno.com

Registration
__Yes, I/we will attend the League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund Fall Luncheon A Delicate Balance: Trees & Schools, November 9, 2000.
__$35 LWV members __$50 Non-members __$100 Capital Club
__$250 Friend of the League __$500 Presidents Club

Name(s)____________________________________________
Address____________________________________________ ?City_________________________State_______
Zip______________________ Phone____________________

__ Please reserve ______ seats. @ $_______
__ Please reserve a table for 8 at $400. (Add names to registration form)
__ I would like to be seated at the_________________ table.

__ I have enclosed a check in the amount of $_______

Please charge my __Mastercard __Visa Card #_____________________________________Exp.______________
_____________________________________________________ (Cardholders Signature required for authorization)
_____________________________________________________ (Printed name as it appears on credit card)

__I am unable to attend but I am pleased to contribute $_________to LWVWA Education Fund.

Make checks payable to League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund and return with this registration information. Purchases or donations above $50 per person will be recognized on the program. Reservations must be pre-paid and will be held at the door. No refunds will be given after November 1^st. LWVWA Education Fund is a tax exempt entity under Section 501 (c) 3 of the IRS code. Cost of lunch, $17.50 is tax-deductible.

For more information email Event Registrar George Beykovsky: jirkohb@juno.com or call LWVWA at: 206-622-8961.

DEPT. OF ECOLOGY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PHASE-OUT OF PERSISTENT BIOACCUMULATIVE TOXIC CHEMICALS (PBTS)

By Elizabeth Davis

On August 22nd Dept. of Ecology announced its long-awaited (2 year) plan for phasing out persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals. (See article in summer VOTER, page 16). The plan is good in many respects, primarily in recognizing the serious health and environmental effects of PBTs and implementing a more serious strategy to phase them out. The plan has been criticized for taking too long (20 years) to phase them out, for not clearly working toward elimination, for only listing nine chemicals for phase-out (instead of the original 27, or many more proposed by several groups), and too little emphasis on prevention of these chemicals getting into land, air or water.

Here is the hearing schedule for the state (all hearings are at 7:00 pm):

September 21 - Bellingham: Whatcom County Council chambers, 311 Grand Avenue

September 27 - Spokane: Spokane Community College, Lair Auditorium, Building 6, 1810 N. Greene Street

September 28 - Kennewick: Kennewick High School, Fuller Auditorium, 500 South Dayton

October 3 - Vancouver: Clark Community College, Foster Auditorium, 1800 E. McLaughlin Blvd.

October 12 - Seattle: Town Hall, 1119 8th Avenue (corner of 8th & Seneca)

WTO - One Year Later, Any Changes?

Pat Davis, President, Washington Council on International Trade & Port of Seattle Commissioner will speak to the International Relations Committee on Monday, November 6 at 12:00. The topic is: WTO - One Year Later, Any Changes?

The meeting is at the LWV/SEATTLE office, 1402 - 18th Avenue, Seattle. For directions call: LWV/Seattle at 206-329-4848.

Questions? Contact Liz Pierini, 206-622-8961, 1-800-419-2596, lwvwa@lwvwa.org

Local Leagues Lead in Voter Service

Submitted by Judy Hedden, LWVWA Voter Service Chair

Once again, our local Leagues are doing a fantastic job in informing the voters and inspiring their communities to participate in the election process. Most of the voter service work that is done comes from the local Leagues, whether it is the many forums that they host (34 reported to me this year and counting) or the many volunteers who work on the varied and creative projects in their communities. Local League volunteers also do all the work for the state League. I especially want to thank Charlotte Kanemori and the volunteers from LWV Lake Washington East and Eileen Grace Brooks and the volunteers from LWV Seattle who helped register voters at the eight nights of the AT&T Outdoor Cinema. I want to thank Lucy Copass, Sylviann Frankus, and Alice Millis for their dedication to providing the best online election coverage ever. I want to thank Trudy Brown and the fabulous Literacy Committee made up of volunteers from several different local Leagues for their work on simplifying the ballot issues. And so much is made possible through the help and support of Claudia Downing, our administrative director, and our state League president, Liz Pierini. The League of Women Voters is best known for its work during the election system toward our mission of encouraging the informed participation of citizens in government. Thank you all for keeping our reputation shining!

State Study on County Finances Available Online!

Submitted by Judy Hedden, Study Chair

We are using some interesting, innovative, and cost-effective ways to distribute the study offering League members several choices of format and length. You can read it online (not a popular choice so hard on the eyes) or you can print your own copy using the pdf version online at www.lwvwa.org/taxes/finances.pdf. You can download a Word version to your own computer. You can request a copy on CD/ROM.

Printed copies of the full study will be provided to each local League. A ten-page summary document will be sent to each League member. You may wish to supplement your reading with the additional resources that are available with the online version.

Please contact me (jahedden@accessone.com or 360-668-3479 if you wish to receive a copy on CD/ROM.

By Janet Anderson, Chair

The "coming out party" for our new state study of election methods was a great success. John B. Anderson's participation in the Leagues Forum and his enthusiastic recommendation of the study material at the City Club luncheon and during numerous press and radio interviews has created a very high level of interest in the study. Because it is posted on the League's web site, we have already received "rave" reviews and orders for more copies from Florida, Washington DC and California to name a few. Two of Anderson's appearances were video taped and are available for borrowing.

Most Washington Leagues have finished the first of their two meetings scheduled for this study. We thought you would like to know how they went and what's ahead. We also have some new ideas to share with those of you who have their first meeting yet ahead.

The most discouraging news is the high percentage of members who came to the meetings without having read the study material. For this reason, discussion of potential criteria for evaluating election systems took far longer than expected and many units deferred answering the last two consensus questions until the second meeting.

The happy news is that members do have a second chance to read the material before their next meeting and some units have new ideas to share for their next meeting. One Seattle unit that has not yet reached consensus has requested ballots that will enable them to vote three different ways for their preferred voting system for multi member representative bodies. They will use a single member plurality ballot, an instant run off ballot and a cumulative ballot. Their ballots will also have a category titled Undecided. Will the answer be the same in all cases? We shall see. Other leagues interested in participating in this experiment should contact Janet Anderson for details (JanetRAnderson@msn.com or 206-285-2460). The ballots could be voted at the beginning of the second meeting. As of this writing, we are still working out the logistics.

More happy news, the State League is once again joining forces with the Seattle League to sponsor a Forum on November 2^nd which will focus on the material in the last chapter of the elections study. A divergent panel of experts will participate in a discussion of our presidential and blanket primary systems, alternatives for apportioning the Electoral College, concerns about the integrity of the mail-in ballot process and potential changes in voter registration laws. Participants will include Senator Julia Patterson, (Chair Senate State and Local Government Committee); Professor Reed Davis, (Seattle Pacific University Political Science Department also Chairman, King County Republican Central Committee) a representative from the Secretary of State's Elections Division; and a member of Citizens for Leaders with Ethics and Accountability Now (CLEAN). The meeting will take place at the Seattle First Baptist Church, Harvard and Seneca, at 7:30 p.m. (discussion leaders briefing at 6:30). As with the September Forum, we hope to have the meeting televised by TVW and copies of the tape available for borrowing.

Sample Ballot

Voting Three Different Ways

Single Member Plurality

Tuesday, November 14, 2000

Town Hall

1119 Eighth Avenue, Seattle, Washington

As with other states, at statehood Washington was granted lands by the federal government to help support specific beneficiaries to build public schools, universities and other institutions. In accepting the lands, Washington's constitution declared that all the public lands granted to the State are to be held in trust for all of the people. In the 1920's and 30's, other lands, known as Forest Board lands, were deeded to the State by counties and added to the portfolio of lands managed in trust. The trust duties associated with these lands have been patterned after those for the federally granted lands. In the new millennium, new and creative ideas are needed to allow the State to balance providing substantial support to current and future beneficiaries with protecting the important natural resource and other values of these lands for all of the people of Washington.

This one-day, symposium-style conference is an opportunity for a wide spectrum of interested parties to come together to discuss the stewardship of Washington's trust lands; to examine and sharpen the principles that govern management of these lands; and to investigate new and innovative ways to address the many and growing demands on trust lands, including fiduciary trust support, public use and habitat and watershed protection.

A planning group, including the League of Women Voters of Washington, the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, and the Washington Environmental Council, has planned this conference, along with input from various other organizations, agencies, and concerned citizens.

8:30 _ 9:30 am Registration/Continental Breakfast

10:00 _ 10:45 Speaker: Dr. Sally Fairfax

10:45 _ 11:00 Break

11:00 _ 12:00 noon Panel: Foundations of Washington's Trust Lands: History and Law

12:00 _ 1:00 pm Lunch

3:00 _ 3:15 Break

3:15 _ 4:45 Panel: Refining the Structure: Innovative Ideas for the Futur

4:45 _ 5:00 Concluding Remarks: Commissioner of Public Lands Jennifer M. Belcher

5:00 _ 6:00 Post-Conference Reception

• Jennifer M. Belcher was first elected Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington State in 1992. As Commissioner, she is the administrator of the Department of Natural Resources, managing more than five million acres of state-owned land and protecting public resources on more than 12 million acres of state and private land. She chairs the Forest Practices Board, which develops rules for the harvest of timber and related activities on 12 million acres of state and private lands, and the Board of Natural Resources, which sets policy for managing state owned lands. She also is a member of the Shorelines Hearings Board, the Puget Sound Action Team, and chairs the State Board on Geographic Names. During her first term as Commissioner, she introduced an ecosystem approach for the overall management of state-owned lands. She was re-elected to the statewide post of Commissioner of Public Lands in 1996. She decided not to seek re-election in 2000 in order to pursue other interests.
  

• Dr. Sally Fairfax co-authored the first systematic study of state land management in the American West, with Jon A. Souder. Titled State Trust Lands: History, Management, & Sustainable Use, it is "a groundbreaking book," according to Pacific Northwest Quarterly. Great Plains Research said "Everyone interested in the history, politics, economics, and management of western lands and natural resources has much to learn from this study." She is also the author of numerous other books and articles, including Forest and Range Policy (2nd ed.), with Sam Dana; Federal Lands with Carolyn Yale; and Conservation Trusts, with Darla Guenzler (forthcoming). She teaches at the University of California, Berkeley.
  

• Dr. Ed Whitelaw is the founder and president of ECONorthwest, and has been a professor of economics at the University of Oregon since 1967. He specializes in urban and regional economics, resource and environmental economics, and the economic consequences of policy decisions. He has testified before administrative, legislative, congressional, and judicial bodies on a variety of economic issues. Since his 1999 work entitled The Sky Did NOT fall: The Pacific Northwest's Response to Logging Reductions, his recent projects have included Economics and Salmon Conservation Along the Pacific Coast of North America, Economic Impacts of Watershed Restoration, and Economic Impacts of Downstream Costs.

Registration includes continental breakfast, morning break, lunch, afternoon break, post-conference reception hors d'oeuvres. Register by returning the attached form with full payment. A confirmation packet will be sent to you upon receipt of your registration. The costs for the conference have been subsidized by Northwest Ecosystem Alliance.

Registration fees for participants have been intentionally kept to a minimum to encourage maximum participation. Conference fees will be refunded less a $10 administrative service charge if a written cancellation notice is postmarked by November 6, 2000. No refunds will be issued beyond the cancellation deadline of November 6. We will accept substitutions anytime through the day of the conference, by written request only. Please include the name of the person to whom you wish to transfer your registration and his/her address and phone number. Send cancellation or substitution requests by mail, facsimile, or e-mail to the registrar.

Town Hall: A 1922 building in Roman Revival style, located in the heart of Seattle one block east of Interstate 5. Well-maintained over the last 80 years, Town Hall was purchased in 1998 by a group of civic-minded Seattle citizens for conversion into a community-based cultural center. Its doors opened in March 1999. Directions are included in the confirmation packet.

Parking: On-your-own at nearby private lots (approximately $15 for the day; map included in confirmation packet).

Lodging: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Pacific Plaza Hotel in downtown Seattle. The Pacific Plaza is approximately five blocks from Town Hall. Reservations are on your own. Contact the Pacific Plaza directly at 800-426-1165 to reserve a room, and mention the Washington State Trust Lands Conference to receive the special rate of $79 per night. Call by November 1, 2000 to receive this special rate.

First Name _____________________________ Last Name __________________________________________________

Title __________________________________ Organization ________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________________________________

City __________________________________ State ____________________ Zip _______________________________

Daytime Phone __________________________ Fax _____________________ Email ____________________________

2nd Participant Information (use reverse for additional participants):

First Name _____________________________ Last Name __________________________________________________

Title __________________________________ Organization ________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________________________________City __________________________________ State ____________________ Zip _______________________________

Daytime Phone __________________________ Fax _____________________ Email ____________________________

Early (through October 2) $30 x _______ ________

Regular (October 3 - November 6) $40 x _______ ________

On-site (November 6 - 14) $50 x _______ ________ $

Select one method of payment:

Mail form with check or money order payable to Washington State Trust Lands Conference

Mail or fax form with credit card information below

Visa /Mastercard # ___________________________________________________________ exp. date_______________

Return completed form and payment to:

Washington State Trust Lands Conference Registrar

1421 Cornwall Avenue, Suite 201, Bellingham, WA 98225

Phone: 360-671-9950 ext. 12 Fax: 360-671-8429 Email:

craschke@ecosystem.org

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UNDOING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM

By Peg Williams

A quiet grassroots movement known as "Undoing Institutional Racism" (UIR) has been taking place within the Human Services Department of the City of Seattle. About six years ago staff attended workshops sponsored by The Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond (a national organization of antiracist organizers and educators, based in New Orleans, LA), and made the decision to engage the whole department in this work. Leaguers across the state should know about this development.

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) has identified institutional racism as a driving force in the cycle of poverty. Pervasive evidence of institutional racism is revealed in a Needs Assessment, conducted by the city for the 2001-2004 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development. There is a wide wealth gap between racial groups. For example, for every dollar of wealth of the median white household in 1999, the median African-American household barely held 9 cents. Persons of color are more likely than whites to be clustered in low paying, low status, non-professional jobs. Racism engenders disparity, which in turn engenders poverty.

The goal of the Undoing Institutional Racism work is to identify and address institutional practices and policies that afford privilege to whites over people of color. We need historical understanding and analysis of how our institutions began and for whom they were originally created. Institutional racism is difficult to see clearly, especially for whites. White organizational culture is the norm within institutions-for example in hiring practices, in the way information is disseminated, in the way reviewers are selected to review funding proposals, in planning, reporting and evaluating. By addressing institutional racism systemically, the goal is to create greater opportunities for communities of color to become stronger economically, politically, and socially.

The UIR group is multi cultural, multi racial, across all job types, classifications and departments. The group meets bi-weekly and works to identify and change policies and practices to promote fairness by removing barriers to access and opportunity. A set of principals was developed and in 1998 these principals were adopted by the department.

Since its inception, the UIR effort has expanded into a collaboration with many local institutions, including United Way, Seattle Public Schools, King County, the Seattle Human Services Coalition, the Minority Executives Coalition and many community based organizations, as well as community residents. Many agencies and community groups have taken the training provided by the Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond. The City HSD arranges workshops with trainers from the Peoples Institute about twice a year, but encourages all groups to develop their own workshops with that leadership, so that each can study its own institutional practices.

"This program is very replicable, once there is a commitment to undoing racism among a core group of people who have enough members to support each other and hold each other accountable. The core group must be led by people of color and include both senior management and elected officials who are willing to take leadership from staff and community members. There must be a genuine commitment to community leadership and real power sharing in program development, policy making and planning. The workshops provided by the People Institute are by far the best training that we know of." (HSD document, City of Seattle , Making Government Part of the Solution)

SHORLINE REPORT

By Ann Aagaard, Shoreline and Wetlands Chair

The Department of Ecology (DOE) is now scheduled to adopt the new draft guidelines that were last revised over 25 years ago. The adoption date is for November 15 or early December of 2000. DOE is currently preparing an extensive responsiveness summary to the almost 2000 comments received by the Department on Path A and Path B of the document. Copies of the summary will be available on Ecology's website or hard copies from DOE. Some changes are being considered to both Path A and Path B. Concern over the risky and vague Path A were expressed by League and others in writing and at the hearing. Substantive changes to the proposed regulation would require re-filing and then a new series of hearings. Substantive changes to either Path A or Path B are not being considered by Ecology at this time.

Thanks to the many League members who attended the public hearings held throughout the state during July and August of this year (and also of last year on the earlier draft). I especially appreciated the thoughtful comments by local League members who reviewed the summary analysis prepared by Bruce Wishert of People for Puget Sound and myself, and responded to the draft(s) with written comments. I also value the updates and personal notes on the postcards returned to me!

Questions: Ann Aagaard's phone is 425-488-8418

ADVERTISEMENT

League of Women Voters of Washington's

ACTION WORKSHOP

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 84th NE & NE 12th, Medina

Registration ($15) begins at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and rolls

Program 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Interesting Speakers!

Delicious Food!

POSSIBLE Issues for Discussion

Children's Issues - Water - Transportation

Health Care - Primary Election Law Changes

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Enjoy a delicious lunch of salads, home-baked bread and desserts provided by members of

League of Women Voters of Lake Washington East

Directions: From I-5 North or Southbound take the 520 Floating Bridge. At the first exit after you cross the bridge, take the 84^th Ave. NE exit and at the stop sign take a right and proceed south on 84^th past the golf course to NE 12^th. Take a right - the entrance to the church is on NE 12^th.

Directions: From Northbound 405: From I-90 take 405 go Northbound to NE 4^th. Exit and take a right going East to 116^th Ave. NE. At the light, take a left and proceed to NE 8^th. At the light on NE 8^th take a left and go West back over the freeway. Continue on this street and it will become NE 12^th. Continue on to NE 84^th. (If you take the NE 8th exit off 405 going North, you will only be able to take a right and go East and you will have to turn around somewhere and go back West).

Directions: From Southbound 405: Take the NE 8^th exit and take a right on NE 8^th and proceed West (street will become NE 12^th) until you reach 84^th Avenue. Cross over 84^th - church entrance is on your right on NE 12^th.

Name______________________________________________________Phone_________________________

Address__________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Make your check payable to LWVWA and mail to: 1411 Fourth Avenue, Suite 803, Seattle, WA 98101

For more information: 206-622-8961, 1-800-419-2596. Registration Deadline, November 8, 2000.

Simplified Statements of the Statewide Ballot Issues for the

2000 General Election

A project of the League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund in cooperation with Washington Literacy

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INITIATIVE NO. 713 - LIMITS ON ANIMAL TRAPPING

Ballot question -This vote has three parts:

1. Should body-gripping traps to capture wild animals be stopped, except for certain uses?
2. Should there be a ban on the buying and selling of furs trapped this way?
3. Should two poisons used to kill wild animals be stopped?

A body-gripping trap, is a trap made to snap shut and hold on to an animal's leg or other body part.

Cage and box traps and common rat and mouse traps are not considered to be body-gripping traps.

Bait is food used to trap animals.

Sodium cyanide and sodium fluoroacetate are poisons put in bait. Animals eat the bait and die.

These traps and one of these poisons can now be used in Washington.

What happens if this initiative becomes law?

• Most uses of body-gripping traps will be illegal.
• Special permits may be allowed to use body-gripping traps:
• To protect human health and safety
• To get rid of dangerous wild animals that cause problems
• To protect endangered animals
• For research.
• Fur from animals killed with body-gripping traps cannot be bought or sold
• Two poisons to kill wild animals cannot be used.

• These traps and poisons are cruel and cause animals much pain.

• Many animals such as pets are killed by mistake.

• Poisons for bait, such as sodium cyanide, are dangerous to the environment, pets and people.

• It will stop the killing of wild animals for their fur with body-gripping traps.

• No one is making a living by trapping wild animals for their pelts.

1. This initiative is a first step in a plan to stop all types of hunting.
2. Natural resources and wildlife management is the job of scientific experts.
3. People depend on trapping and selling furs to earn a living.
4. Traps and poisons help protect humans and livestock from dangerous animals.
5. Laws are already in place to regulate the use of these poisons.

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Ballot question -This vote has five parts:

1. Should increases in property taxes be limited to no more than 2%?
2. Should the value of a property be based on its 1999 value with increases limited to 2% a year?
3. Should local tax districts give up the right to save their taxing capacity for the future?
4. Should motor vehicles continue to be free from property taxes?
5. Should most tax and fee increases adopted from July 2, 1999 through December 31, 1999 be refunded unless voter approved?

Property is now assessed for taxes at its current market value. Governments may increase taxes in their districts up to 6% a year.

Motor vehicles are not now taxed as property.

Initiative 695 passed in November 1999. It became effective on January 1, 2000. It cut the cost of auto license tabs and other excise taxes. In 1999, some local governments, expecting losses in revenue, increased some fees and taxes.

Local taxing districts now have the right to save their unused levy capacity by not taxing at the maximum amount allowed.

What happens if this initiative becomes law?

• Property tax will not be paid on motor vehicles.
• Property tax increases by governments after 1999 will be no more than 2% a year.
• Property will keep its 1999 assessed value, plus no more than a 2% increase a year.
• The local taxing districts cannot save their unused taxing capacity.

• Taxes or fees adopted by the government between July 2, 1999 and December 31, 1999 will be refunded.
• Tax increases that voters approved will not be refunded.

1. People should not pay new taxes unless they vote on them.
2. Property taxes are too high. Older people on a fixed income who bought their houses long ago, cannot pay their taxes.
3. Motor vehicles should never be taxed as property.
4. Property taxes can only be increased by 2% a year.

1. Because of these tax limits, people whose houses are increasing in value will not be paying their fair share.
2. People elected to our government should be able to increase fees and taxes if needed.
3. Older people with low incomes can get help with their property tax.
4. Many important services will suffer because of the loss of funds, including schools, buses, fire and police protection.

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INITIATIVE NO. 728 - K-12 SCHOOL FUNDING

Ballot question - This vote has two parts:

1. Should the Student Achievement Fund and a new Education Construction Fund be created?
2. Should some money from the State Lottery, Emergency Reserve Fund and State Property Tax be used to support these two new funds?

The State Constitution says that education is the most important duty of the state.

In 1993, the state legislature passed the Washington Education Reform Act. It set a higher standard for students and teachers. Limited funding was provided to help meet these new standards.

Now, state lottery money is used to pay prizes, run the lottery, pay for the Mariners’ baseball stadium and to fund education.

State Property Taxes are used for many public needs, including schools.

Now, any surplus in the State Emergency Reserve Fund goes into an education construction fund.

What happens if this initiative becomes law?

• Two new funds will be set up:

1. The Student Achievement Fund
2. The School Construction Fund

• Money to support these two new funds will come from:

1. The State Property Tax - For 3 years $140 for each student will be put into the Student Achievement Fund. After 3 years, this amount will increase to $450 for each student.
2. The Lottery - The money not used for other purposes will be put into the Student Achievement Fund and the Education Construction Fund.
3. The Emergency Reserve Fund surplus - 75% goes to the Student Achievement Fund and 25% to the State General Fund.

• The money will be used to:

1. Make class sizes smaller
2. Extend learning opportunities

3. Fund teacher training
4. Create programs to help very young children in their development
5. Improve school buildings

• Local school districts will be able to decide which of these programs will best help their students.

1. It will lower class size. Washington has larger class sizes than most other states.
2. It will not raise taxes.
3. It will give money to programs that improve student achievement in grades K-12, help pre-school children and pay for needed school construction.
4. Local school districts will decide how best to use these funds to help their students do better in school.

1. The extra funds to support these programs depend on a very good economy.
2. The State Legislature must fund these programs each year. There may not be enough money to pay for them and other needed programs.
3. The Lottery is not a dependable source of funding.
4. None of this money goes to fund colleges and universities.

INITIATIVE NO. 729 - CHARTER SCHOOLS

Ballot question

Should Charter Public Schools be allowed in the State of Washington?

A Charter School is a public school operated by a non-profit organization with its own board of directors. It operates under a contract with a local school district or state university.

Washington offers free public education for all K-12 students.

The State of Washington is divided into school districts. Most of the money for the schools comes from the state. The state makes many of the rules for running the schools.

A school board is elected by the voters in each school district. The school board makes rules for running the schools in their district. The school board hires the teachers but they are paid with money from the state.

What happens if this initiative becomes law?

• A group that wants to start a charter school must get a sponsor, be approved as a non-profit organization and set up a board.
• The sponsors can be school districts and state or regional universities. Charter schools must report at least once a year to their sponsors and to parents of the students enrolled.

• When the charter school is approved, it will get the same amount of money for each student that a district school gets.
• The schools, if they have space, must admit all students who apply.
• The state rules for health, safety and civil rights must be followed. Many other state and local school district rules would not apply to charter schools.
• A charter school will operate independently of any school district board.
• There can be no more than 20 charter schools approved each year starting January 1, 2001.
• The bargaining unit for employees of charter public schools is limited to the employees of that school and must be separate from already existing bargaining units in the school district.

1. Charter schools will give people the chance to try new things in schools.
2. Charter school board members can set up policies that provide more students with a better education.
3. The present school system does not work for all students.
4. Charter schools will improve all public education by encouraging competition and bringing needed reform.

1. Charter schools will spend tax money but voters and elected district school boards will have little or no control over them.
2. Most public school boards already permit different types of schools within their school district.
3. This will weaken the ability of teachers to protect their rights because they will be limited only to bargaining units within their own charter schools.
4. The present public schools must be fully funded before starting another type of school system.

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INITIATIVE NO. 732 - PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

Ballot question

Should public school teachers and other school district employees and certain employees of community and technical colleges receive yearly cost-of-living salary increases?

In Washington, the state legislature decides on salary increases for public school and college employees.

The federal government determines the cost-of-living increases for each state. This is called the Consumer Price Index or CPI.

Salaries for school employees have not kept up with the cost-of living increases.

What happens if this initiative becomes law?

• The state will use the CPI for the past year and give each school district enough money to pay employees the cost-of-living increase.

• Teachers and some employees of technical colleges and teachers in community colleges will also receive this yearly cost-of-living pay increase.
• This cost-of-living increase will be given to all public school, technical and college teachers and certain employees each year.

1. The most important duty of the State is to provide quality education for our children.
2. We need good teachers to have good schools.
3. Teachers and other school employees' incomes have not kept up with rising prices.
4. We have a teacher shortage. We need to narrow the salary gap between teachers and other jobs.

1. Teachers need to have more money than just the cost-of-living increase.
2. The state may not be able to pay the cost-of-living increase without cutting other services.
3. Only teachers who are doing a good job should get pay increases.
4. These cost-of-living pay increases should apply to all state employees.

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INITIATIVE NO. 745 - ROAD BUILDING

Ballot question - This vote has three parts:

1. Should 90% of transportation funds be used for road building and repair?
2. Should construction materials and labor used in building and repairing roads be free of sales taxes?
3. Should new roads and repairing roads be the main way to improve the states’ traffic problems?

In the State of Washington, transportation funds are used to support and maintain many types of transportation such as: roads, ferries, buses, airports, train systems, rides for the disabled and senior citizens, walkways and landscaping for roads.

Both state and local governments make plans and decisions about transportation. They also collect taxes and fees to support their transportation plans.

The state auditor examines all state and local transportation agencies to insure that they are following state and local laws.

Sales and use taxes must be paid on materials and labor used in building and maintaining roads.

What happens if this initiative becomes law?

• 90% of transportation funds will be used to build and repair roads.
• The plans by some local governments to improve traffic problems by using buses and trains must be changed so that 90% of their transportation money is spent on roads.
• No sales or use taxes will be paid on labor and materials used to build and repair roads.
• Transportation funds will be used to check on how well state and local governments are carrying out the goals of this initiative.

1. More roads will decrease traffic congestion.
2. Jobs depend on good transportation.
3. Too much money is being spent on types of transportation that are not important to most people (ferries, buses, trains and trails).
4. Today roads are our most important means of transportation.
5. Transportation officials are not doing a good job. They need to be made more responsible to the people.

1. Building more roads is not the best way to improve traffic problems. It only creates more cars on the roads, pollution and urban sprawl.
2. Bus and ferry service will be cut. This is the only way many people can get around.
3. Cutting bus and ferry service will also put more cars on the road. Traffic will be much worse.
4. People have already voted for transportation plans. This overturns their votes.
5. It is not fair that only highway construction companies will not pay sales and use taxes when others have to pay.

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Ballot question

Should the state constitution be changed to remove limits on how money held in trust for the developmentally disabled can be invested?

A trust fund to help people with developmental disabilities was started by the last legislature. The fund helps families provide for the long-term care of disabled family members when the family can no longer do so. It is funded by the state and the family.

The Washington constitution limits how state money may be invested. Unless the constitution is amended this trust fund cannot be invested in stocks and bonds of private companies. It can only be invested in savings accounts and public bonds.

The constitution has been changed two times in the past to allow the legislature to decide how two other state funds may be invested.

What happens if this resolution becomes law?

• The constitution will be changed to remove the limits on investing this fund.
• The state legislature will make the rules on how this money will be invested.

1. This fund could earn more money for the care of the developmentally disabled.
2. All the state legislators voted to support this change.

1. There is risk in investing in the stocks and bonds of private companies.
2. Keeping the fund safe for the developmentally disabled is important.

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Members of the Literacy Committee this year: Trudy Brown, Chair, Lael Braymer, Elizabeth Davis, Anne Goldberg, Betsy Greene, Charlotte Kanemori, Jan O'Connor and Elizabeth Pierini

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