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In case you missed them, here are some of the top stories from the weekend:
As students in Washington classrooms have become more diverse, the teachers who stand before them have remained almost always white.
It’s a chasm that has remained stubbornly wide for decades, worsened by barriers to higher education, teacher credential tests and limited funding to diversify teacher training programs.
A joint analysis by The Seattle Times and The Columbian newspapers found that even though the number of teachers of color is growing at a faster rate than that of white teachers, there are still few of them in classrooms. The newspapers looked at all 313 school districts, charter schools and educational service districts that sent teacher and student demographic information to the state. Last school year, nearly a quarter of Washington’s school districts had no teachers of color.
Read the full story: The color of education
Washington’s minimum wage is scheduled to jump to $12 per hour in January, the third in series of four annual wage hikes prescribed by Initiative 1433.
The increase is certain to have an impact on the businesses that employ an estimated 6,800 minimum wage workers in Clark County, but a local economist expects the impact of the latest wage hike to be relatively minimal compared to the larger increase scheduled for 2020. Still, the pay bump will be a welcome New Year’s gift for the people receiving the increase.
A few Clark County business owners who spoke to The Columbian expressed concern about the upcoming changes, but others said their wages were already above the state minimum, and most expressed support for the measures.
Read the full story: Will state’s minimum wage hike have major impact on Clark County employers?
Proponents of replacing the bridge have stated that details of the project are yet to be determined. But Inslee’s budget included language directing project staff to assume the new bridge will include light rail and may be financed with tolls.
“Having that language allows the federal government to know we have a real project,” said Inslee in an interview with The Columbian on Friday. “It’s not just wishes and dreams.”
Inslee said that’s important because Oregon and Washington will be required to pay back federal funds used for the Columbia River Crossing next year unless they can show progress. Inslee said that Washington’s share to be paid back would be $54 million.
He pointed out that Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has clearly stated her desire for light rail on the new bridge. He said that his inclusion of light rail on the new bridge communicates to Oregon that Washington will be a partner on the project.
Read the full story: Inslee wants light rail for replacement 1-5 bridge
Clark County’s three main business groups rolled out their legislative wish list to the county’s legislative delegation Friday at the 2019 Legislative Outlook Breakfast, including investments in broadband and other infrastructure projects in the area.
But business leaders also used the annual event held at WareHouse ’23 to press area legislators on what they don’t want: tax increases.
Earlier this week, Gov. Jay Inslee rolled out his proposed $54.4 billion two-year budget, which includes increases in the business and occupation tax from 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent and a 9 percent capital gains tax on earnings from the sale of stocks and bonds above $25,000 for individuals.
Inslee has justified the tax hikes to fund a 20 percent increase in spending that he said is necessary to maintain government services while supporting new initiatives on mental health, salmon and orca recovery, among others.
The priorities prepared by the Columbia River Economic Development Council, the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Identity Clark County are asking that the business and occupation tax rate for manufacturing be lowered, not raised. They’re also asking the Legislature, which reconvenes next month, to reinstate a research-and-development tax credit and an extension of the aerospace manufacturing tax rate to all manufacturing businesses.
Read the full story: Business groups offer wish list at Legislative Outlook Breakfast
