UW News

December 13, 1999

Workshops to help public officials prepare for I-695

More than 300 mayors, administrators, finance chiefs and other local officials will attend a daylong workshop Wednesday (Dec. 15) at the University of Washington on how to implement Initiative 695.

A similar workshop for at least 100 Eastern Washington officials will be held the following day in Moses Lake.

Offered by The Cascade Center at the UW’s Evans School of Public Affairs, the workshops are intended to help local leaders prepare for the financial, political and legal impact of the tax-cut passed by voters last month.

“Now that the people have spoken,” said Cascade Center chairman Jon Brock, “government officials have to get down to the serious business of complying with the law, making the necessary adjustments and providing the best level of service possible.”

Experts leading workshop sessions will include:
— Pollster Stuart Elway on “What is the Message from the Voters?”
— Stan Finkelstein, executive director of the Association of Washington Cities, on I-695’s budgetary effects and adjustments needed to comply with the law.
— Hugh Spitzer, affiliate UW law professor, on capital financing and legal questions.

Co-sponsoring the workshops are the Association of Washington Cities, Washington State Association of Counties, Washington City/County Management Association, Washington Finance Officers Association and Seattle-Northwest Securities Corp.

Both workshops will include panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions.
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For more information or to attend either session, contact Brock at (206)685-0523, jbrock@u.washington.edu.