Businesses show strong leadership to government
While the residents of Clark County are starting their Christmas shopping and holiday event planning, business community members are trailing one another to meeting after meeting to be heard by county and city officials during a seemingly endless barrage of public hearings.
Next Monday, the city of Vancouver will decide the fate of the proposed "business surcharge" for new capacity transportation after more than two years of discussions. Strong leadership shown by allied business organizations known as the Coalition for a Strong Economy and Community quashed the proposed Business & Occupation tax by presenting a fair proposal. We applaud the coalition’s efforts and see in it an influential force emerging from this process, which could further business interests on future matters in an organized, even-handed way. The organizations banded together in the coalition are the Columbia River Economic Development Council, Identity Clark County, the Downtown Vancouver Association and the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, newly led by former HP communicator Beth Quartarolo.
Those opposed to the surcharge are the Building Industry Association of Clark County, the Clark County of Association of Realtors and the East Vancouver Business Association. While we disagree with this opposition in the face of the B&O tax alternative, we are heartened that these groups are showing up to represent their members’ interests.
On the docket for the end of the month is a short series of public hearings on the preferred alternative of the county’s growth management plan – a long time coming, itself – and a final presentation of the plan by the Clark County Planning Commission to the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 30.
In the face of these two Goliaths, David comes in the form of county budget hearings where a sales tax hike to fund public safety and launch an attack on methamphetamine-related crime will be proposed. A one-tenth of one percent hike imposed across the county is expected to raise $6 million per year for mental health and substance abuse programs to stem the tide of meth. Two-tenths of one percent imposed in unincorporated Clark County will raise $5 million a year for "law and justice," which includes 16 additional deputies, additional attorneys and indigent defense and to begin reserving capacity for a future jail. The presentation of the budget is on Dec. 4, and the public hearings are on Dec. 5 at the Public Service Building.
The crush is on to put government business to bed before the holidays. The end is near, and celebrating will happen at home with our families as the snow flies. But for now, keep it up, leaders and organizers, Clark County businesses are being heard in ever larger numbers. What you do now will influence years of policy and prep us for the coming legislative session.
Check the city of Vancouver and Clark County Web sites for more information on where to be when. Keep these hearings open for business.
Visit www.clark.wa.gov and www.ci.vancouver.wa.us.
