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Commissioner outlines support for procurement and local revenue bills; raises broadband funding delay
Summary
Commissioner St. Clair asked the county to consider supporting a state procurement bill (House Bill 2566) and a local revenue bill (referred to in discussion as 2442), and reported Island County has not yet received NTIA broadband allocations that most other states and territories have gotten.
During commissioner comments at the Feb. 17 meeting, Commissioner St. Clair said he has been tracking two bills he believes would benefit Island County and asked whether the county should sign in or have staff speak in support.
"The first one is the procurement bill that we talked about briefly... That's House Bill 2566," Commissioner St. Clair said, adding that the bill would give local governments more flexibility to expedite contracting. He asked that staff or county representatives "speak on behalf of it if the two of you are in support."
He also raised a local revenue bill (referred to from memory in the discussion as 2442) that he described as a WASAC priority offering additional, optional revenue flexibility for local governments; he emphasized the bill does not mandate action by counties and said he would provide more details if requested.
Commissioner St. Clair reported a broadband action team meeting is planned and expressed frustration that Island County had not yet received NTIA broadband allocations while "50 of 56 states and territories have been awarded their NTIA money." "We are the only one of the few that haven't," he said.
No formal board vote on either bill was recorded during the Feb. 17 meeting; staff were asked to pass materials to county representatives at the Legislature and follow up on questions about potential revenue impacts.
