Welcome to the first edition of my electronic newsletter! I’m excited about starting this venture and hope you’ll find these newsletters informative and timely.

I received many of your email addresses from my town hall meeting last month – I hope you will enjoy this additional communication. Receiving these e-newsletters is completely voluntary and you may opt out by sending an email to listserv@listserv.wa.gov and including "Signoff Shin e-newsletter" in the body of the e-mail.

In addition to this e-newsletter, I will continue mailing my regular legislative newsletter. However, I encourage you to help me reduce paper waste and sign up to receive the electronic version only. To do so, please email my legislative assistant, Jim, at freeeburg.jim@leg.wa.gov and ask that you be removed from our hard copy list.

The 2007 legislative session is down to its final week. I’m optimistic we’ll finish on time. But there is much negotiating to do, especially on the budgets.

Budget Outlook

The Senate approved its two-year transportation, capital and operating budgets. As the House and Senate budget amounts differ slightly, we are negotiating compromises. The operating budget totals about $33 billion, leaving an ending fund balance of $766 million. Additionally, if created, a Rainy Day Fund would set aside $158.7 million of that amount.

What’s a Rainy Day Fund?

A rainy day fund is money set aside for economic downturns or extraordinary expenses. The Senate supports making this a constitutionally protected fund, meaning the money could be tapped only by a 60 percent vote in each chamber or if the governor declares a state of emergency. Voters would need to agree to change our state constitution to create such an account. Forty-four states already have some type of state reserve account, governed by different restrictions and authorized budget purposes. Washington is no stranger to the economic boom and bust cycle, so putting away 1 percent would be the responsible thing to do.

The Senate budget’s highlights

The 21st Legislative District would receive about $16 million for capital improvement projects. Here is a rundown:

• A four-year university. As chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, one of my goals is to see a four-year university built in the Snohomish-Island-Skagit county region. The budget includes $4 million for site recommendations; hiring an outside consultant; securing land options; and creating a business plan and governance model for a four year university.
• Edmonds Community College. ECC would get $13.6 million: $9.3 million for renovations of Meadowdale Hall, $2.5 million for electrical upgrades and $1.8 million for preservation projects.

Other noteworthy projects funded in the budget include:

• Edmonds Center for the Arts: $1 million
• Acquisition of Old Woodway Elementary School in Edmonds: $500,000
• Washington State Historical Society’s Heritage Program, City of Mukilteo: $489,000
• YMCA in Snohomish County, located in Mukilteo: $385,000
• Phase I construction of Mukilteo Lighthouse Park: $300,000
• South County Senior Services in Edmonds: $200,000
• North Lynnwood Park aquatic playground: $176,000
• Compass Health in Lynnwood, which provides behavioral health services: $37,000

All these proposals are still under negotiation and will be finalized next week.

Transportation

The Senate’s transportation budget amount is about $8 billion. This keeps transportation safety improvement projects on schedule. We are honoring promises made to voters on the 2003 Nickel Package and the 2005 Transportation Partnership Act and continues funding for these projects.

You can find more information on issues by visiting my web site at http://sdc.leg.wa.gov/shin.htm.

Sincerely,

Paull Shin

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