WPPA 2011 Legislative Priorities

A continually growing general fund budget shortfall creates a difficult environment for issues that require any additional state investment. WPPA believes this legislative session does provide opportunities to improve the future economic outlook for the state by putting policies in place allowing us to quickly and efficiently move forward when the economy turns around.

PORTS: Setting the Stage for Success in a New Economy

Building Infrastructure

· CERB (Community Economic Revitalization Board) funding must be continued in some form, whether through the traditional program or through a new iteration. WPPA will support efforts to provide $20 million in funds out of the state’s capital budget specifically for economic development infrastructure investment. Criteria for awarding funding should allow for adequate flexibility and should focus the ability to leverage private sector investment and job creation.

· With state funding difficult to come by, ports must better utilize current funding mechanisms in order to build necessary infrastructure. Providing additional flexibility to current IDD levy financing tools will provide more opportunities for ports to fund infrastructure projects themselves. WPPA will work for passage of legislation that will allow ports to use smaller portions of their IDD levy capacity on specific projects over extended periods of time without forfeiting their remaining capacity, while maintaining the current level of taxing authority.

· Transportation Infrastructure Funding is facing a crisis very soon. As need grows and funding shrinks, state and local governments must strategically prioritize projects, and come up with innovative new ways to fund those projects. WPPA will work to ensure that the state prioritizes strategic freight mobility projects, including rail.

Cleaning Up the Environment

· Stable predictable funding for remedial actions continues to be a primary concern for ports. During the last biennium we enjoyed some success at preserving existing funds and maintaining the integrity of MTCA (Model Toxics Clean-up Act). WPPA will seek stable, robust MTCA funding in the 2011-13 biennial budget.

· Providing additional funding stability and flexibility for remedial action projects is critical for long-term project planning purposes. A financing report organized by WPPA and the State Department of Ecology last fall has given rise to the idea of grant funded trusts as a possible concept. WPPA will work towards development of grant funded trusts in order to create additional funding stability for future clean-up projects.

Keeping Public Agency Costs Down

· Providing an opportunity for requestors and agencies to clarify and resolve issues relating to public record requests prior to lawsuits being filed would save public agencies millions of taxpayer dollars in fines and court costs. WPPA will work for passage of legislation to allow public agencies and requestors to “meet and confer” prior to litigating public record request disputes.

· Being able to recover the research costs of extensive public records requests would save time and money. WPPA will work for passage of legislation that will limit free research time, and allow for some recovery of costs for public records requests.

For more information contact: Washington Public Ports Association (360) 943-0760

Eric Johnson ericj@washingtonports.org

Johan Hellman jhellman@washingtonports.org

Ginger Eagle geagle@washingtonports.org