Sultan's Blue Ribbon Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP)

First CAP Meeting: Monday, September 10, 2007, 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Monday, September 17, 2007, 6:30 to 8:00 PM

Meeting Materials/Packet received from the City (1.2 mb pdf)
(Unfortunately, the above materials were received via snail mail only one hour prior to the CAP meeting, by at least two of the CAP members)

Links to research materials by CAP members (Re Eyman Initiatives I-695 and I-747) to determine how other jurisdictions adjusted operations and/or other methods by which they compensated for lost revenue. We found that most jurisdictions, regardless of size, lost, on average, 30% of their total revenues.

• OFM Study on Land Use and Local Govt. Finance (1.3 mb; info re I-695 and I-747, specifically found on p 97 of pdf file/p 87 of Report) - This easy-to-read 164-page report is based on surveys by Washington State's Office of Financial Management re the impacts of annexations on a city's finances.
• AWC (Assn. of Washington Cities) Database Comparison of Washington Cities (in Excel) - An amazing city-by-city spreadhseet/database of virtually any factoid you'd ever want to know about a city. Best of all, if you know the Excel program well enough, you can manipulate it so you can sort it by any listed category.
• City of Des Moines, WA (Aug. 2004 Budget shortfall info to citizens) (200 kb pdf)
• City of Toppenish (AWC 2004 Acvhievement Award) - Statement of Achievement re Toppenish's accomplishment in successfully overcoming the loss of $450K in tax equalization funds in 1999, to become financially independent of state funds by 2004.
• Revenue Spreadsheet from Eyman's Permanent Offence group (in pdf) - Indicates increased revenues for many cities through 2005. In its original form, as an Excel spreadsheet (59 kb
• League of Women Voters - Sept. 2004 Washington State Tax Study Update (A terrific layman's look at Washington's Budget and tax structure.
• Washington State Ferry System (2002) (746 kb pdf) Page 3 of this document explains the negative effects of I-695 on operations, ferry runs and staffing, and how the Ferry System adjusted and compensated accordingly.
• WSDOT - (Slide #34) - Nov. 2005 Japan Performance-based Measures workshop (2.7 mb pdf/slide show): We included this to show how performance-based criteria and measures can positive affect the bottom line.

Snohomish County Assessors Tax/Levy Workshop held 9/26/07 - Here's the hard copy handout/slideshow distributed at that workshop (CAP Members Jackie Personeous and L. Storm attended).

Meeting Notes/Minutes (by Secretary Traci Hoenstine; approved by CAP Members)

AUDIO (16.5 MP3 file)

Meeting Materials Received from the City:

• Levy Lid Lift info (542 kb pdf)
• Prothman Group Follow-through Report: Status of implementation of recommendations contained in Prothman Report (3.5 mb)

Meeting Notes/Minutes (authored by Secretary Traci Hoenstine)

AUDIO (19.9 mb MP3 file)

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Wed., Oct. 17, 2007, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

PRESENTATIONS by AWC & Snohoco Assessors Office

Snohomish County Assessor Cindy Portman and Deputy Chief Linda Hjelle:

Audio 8.8 mb MP3 file of presentation/discussion

Materials Distributed by the Assessor:

• Assessor's Tax/Levy Workshop slideshow presentation (same one as linked for the 9/17 meeting)
• 2007 Assessor's Annual Report (918 kb pdf) - And here are links to previous Assessor Annual Reports: 2006, 2005, 2004)

AWC: Stan Finkelstein (Assn. of Washington Cities)

Audio 12.2 mb MP3 file of presentation/discussion

Materials Distributed by Mr. Finkelstein, AWC:

• BARS Report of Cities between 3,000-6,000 in Population: Expenses Report and Income/Revenue Report
• Spreadsheets: Sultan Tax Levy Info, AWC Tax & User Fee Survey 2006 (cities 3-6,000 in population), and spreadsheetsre water rates and sewer rates, various jurisdictions

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