Please join us as Former State Senator Harriet Spanel leads us through the process of developing a state budget. There will be an update on the current progress of the budget and thoughts from 42nd Legislative District Representative Kelli Linville.

The meeting is Thursday, January 21, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Norway Hall, 1419 N. Forest St, Bellingham (between Champion & Magnolia) MAP

Also: Congressional nomination process, Platform development, Dems Annual Budget

This spring, on April 27th , a levy will go before Whatcom County voters in WTA’s service area, requesting a sales tax increase of 0.2% (2 cents for every 10 dollars) to help WTA maintain their current level of service in the face of budget shortfalls due to the reduction of sales tax revenues. WTA staff has already reduced expenditures as much as possible by delaying capital purchases, deferring technology, and cutting program costs for advertising, professsional services, etc.

Recently several of us met with Representative Kelli Linville to discuss the realities facing the State Legislature in the 2010 session.  This will be another tough year for our state which is currently facing a 2.6 billion dollar deficit.  Whatcom County’s Rep. Linville (D-42nd), chair of the influencial Ways and Means Committee, talked recently to us about how she sees the budget process unfolding: