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Governance

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Blaine proposes staff cuts, fee and tax increases in budget (Bellingham Herald, November 16, 2009)
Pierce County Council seeks to combine departments (Tacoma News Tribune, November 12, 2009)
Pierce County budget trims 300 jobs (Tacoma News Tribune, November 12, 2009)
Port Orchard again attempts mayor’s ‘performance based’ salary model (Port Orchard Independent, November 11, 2009)
Pierce County Council cuts spending, hoards cash for 2010 (Tacoma News Tribune, November 10, 2009)
Pierce County Council pushes sweeping department consolidation (Tacoma News Tribune, November 10, 2009)
Proposed budget avoids tax hikes, maintains services (Tri-City Herald, November 10, 2009)
‘Banked’ property tax hike considered (Whidbey News Times, November 10, 2009)
City Council members approve property tax increase (Bellingham Herald, November 9, 2009)
King County to stop animal shelter services by Jan. 31 (Seattl PI, November 9, 2009)
A sad tune: Olympia budget blues (The Olympian, November 8, 2009)
27 jobs in jeopardy in Lewis (The Olympian, November 7, 2009)
City considers cuts to balance ledger (North Kitsap Herald, November 6, 2009)
Sheriff’s Guild to forgo COLA; will save county $60k (Islands Sounder, November 3, 2009)
City notifies 14 of layoffs (The Olympian, November 3, 2009)
New agency for open records? (The Olympian, November 3, 2009)
Financial emergency declared by Island County (Whidbey News Times, October 30, 2009)
Proposed Benton budget cuts met with stunned silence (Tri-City Herald, October 30, 2009)
Revenue flat as expenses grow for the city (Bainbridge Island Review, October 30, 2009)
Gig Harbor preliminary budget calls for more layoffs (Tacoma News Tribune, October 28, 2009)
Grim budget looms for next mayor (Seattle Times, October 27, 2009)
Pasco celebrates 125th anniversary (Tri-City Herald, October 24, 2009)
Richland plans no cuts in services (Tri-City Herald, October 21, 2009)
Bellingham mayor to propose tax increase, tapping reserves (Bellingham Herald, October 19, 2009)
County employees take voluntary furloughs to help budget (Islands Sounder, October 13, 2009)
Whatcom County officials still working to close $3.4 million budget deficit (Bellingham Herald, October 13, 2009)
Kennewick official says layoffs may be necessary (Tri-City Herald, October 13, 2009)
City looks to technology to serve its citizens (Seattle PI, October 12, 2009)
Online voting makes progress in Franklin County (Tri-City Herald, October 9, 2009)
Lagging economy delivers a blow to Federal Way's budget (Federal Way Mirror, October 8, 2009)
City, North Whatcom fire chiefs talk cooperation (Lynden Tribune, October 7, 2009)
Castle Rock tries new approach to budget process (The Daily News, October 6, 2009)
Eyman: Poll shows I-1033 passing 61-31 (Tacoma News Tribune, September 29, 2009)
University Place losing leader who’s been there from the start (Tacoma News Tribune, September 25, 2009)
Search for city manager hinges on election results (Federal Way Mirror, September 25, 2009)
Pierce County executive calls for more job cuts (Tacoma News Tribune, September 22, 2009)
Bellingham library, fire dispatch unions agree to skip cost-of-living increases (Bellingham Herald, September 22, 2009)
Council votes 6-1 to oppose elected mayor initiative (Federal Way Mirror, September 21, 2009)
Cash-short county inks raises for unions (Seattle PI, September 21, 2009)
Pasco considers consolidation, bridge studies (Tri-City Herald, September 15, 2009)
With budget cuts, layoffs, Bellingham parks and library services decrease (Bellingham Herald, August 28, 2009)
King County cities break ground on regional jail; completion slated for July 2011 (Federal Way Mirror, August 11, 2009)
Elected mayor proposal will appear on November ballot (Federal Way Mirror, August 10, 2009)
Mid-Columbia elections offices put pamphlets online (Tri-City Herald, August 8, 2009)
Bellingham prepares to lay off more city workers (Bellingham Herald, August 7, 2009)
Elected mayor initiative rises from the ashes in Federal Way (Federal Way Mirror, August 4, 2009)
Tacoma city jobs might go unfilled (Tacoma News Tribune, August 3, 2009)
Disabled get assistance with voting (Tri-City Herald, July 30, 2009)
Puyallup backs off at-large council elections (Tacoma News Tribune, July 29, 2009)
Castle Rock must trim $250,000 from budget (The Daily News, July 14, 2009)
Shortfall grows in Tacoma coffers (Tacoma News Tribune, June 23, 2009)
Firefighters agree to salary freeze, could save Bellingham $1 million (Bellingham Herald, June 22, 2009)
Federal Way court's fate goes on trial as city weighs options (Federal Way Mirror, June 18, 2009)
Mayor's salary further defined by performance-based model (Port Orchard Independent, June 18, 2009)
Franklin County OKs nonunion workers furlough plan (Tri-City Herald, June 16, 2009)
Pasco to put sales tax increase on ballot (Tri-City Herald, June 16, 2009)
County attorney: Property tax measure not legal (Bellingham Herald, June 16, 2009)
City shows its smarts in winning state award (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, June 13, 2009)
City releases painful yearly financial report (Bainbridge Review, June 12, 2009)
2010 Pierce County budget agenda: Keep polls open, cut recreation (Tacoma News Tribune, June 10, 2009)
Pierce County Council approves budget cuts (Tacoma News Tribune, June 9, 2009)
Jobs at stake as county prepares $1 million in budget cuts (Islands Sounder, June 8, 2009)
Pierce County Council hopes to stimulate development (Tacoma News Tribune, June 7, 2009)
City of Tacoma faces worsening economic picture (Tacoma News Tribune, June 3, 2009)
Builder, city workers praise the finished City Hall (Lynden Tribune, June 3, 2009)
Bellingham bans gun sales within 500 feet of schools (Seattle Times, June 2, 2009)
Bellingham mayor recommends higher taxes, red-light cameras to raise revenue (Bellingham Herald, June 2, 2009)
Federal Way budget blues: Public faces diminished customer service amid restructuring of city staff and salaries (Federal Way Mirror, May 30, 2009)
Lynden workers get more space in new City Hall (Bellingham Herald, May 29, 2009)
City considers terminating Federal Way Municipal Court (Federal Way Mirror, May 26, 2009)
Leaders to discuss progress on combining services (The Daily News, May 25, 2009)
City of Richland offers citizens Facebook site (Tri-City Herald, May 25, 2009)
Effort to merge Everson, Nooksack voted down by council (Bellingham Herald, May 23, 2009)
Bellingham budget woes could affect worker pay, benefits (Bellingham Herald, May 22, 2009)
Safe City: 27 cameras will monitor crime in Federal Way's downtown core (Federal Way Mirror, May 20, 2009)
Special Election Coverage: 'Mandate' for new government; BISD bond too close to call (Bainbridge Island Review, May 20, 2009)
Report: Consolidating Everson and Nooksack could save $125,000 annually (Bellingham Herald, May 19, 2009)
Local entities participate in social networking (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, May 19, 2009)
Prosser revamps website to increase service (Tri-City Herald, May 18, 2009)
Tax increase likely to go before Pasco, Franklin County voters (Tri-City Herald, May 12, 2009)
Port, city to unite on common issues (Tri-City Herald, May 12, 2009)
Island County slashes positions (Whidbey News-Times, May 12, 2009)
Tacoma misconduct report: Many complaints, little punishment (Tacoma News Tribune, May 12, 2009)
Franklin County announces pay cuts, layoffs (Tri-City Herald, May 10, 2009)
Form of government vote is a community ordeal (Bainbridge Review, April 30, 2009)
Cuts: Tacoma City Council gets hard budget facts (Tacoma News Tribune, April 29, 2009)
Puyallup may ditch at-large voting proposal (Tacoma News Tribune, April 28, 2009)
County Auditor recommends $1 Million budget cut (Islands Sounder, April 28, 2009)
Crime-fighting tax sought (Tri-City Herald, April 26, 2009)
Commissioners agree to layoffs, other cost-cutting measures (The Daily News, April 21, 2009)
Latest round of cuts claims 22 county jobs (Whidbey News Times, April 21, 2009)
County to adopt four day work week (Port Orchard Independent, April 21, 2009)
For Grandview's town portrait, everyone is invited (Seattle Times, April 21, 2009)
Lacey firefighters’ union draws flak (Tacoma News Tribune, April 21, 2009)
Gov. Gregoire signs county seat legislation (Tri-City Herald, April 17, 2009)
Taxable retail sales nosedive in county (The Olympian, April 11, 2009)
Buckley residents can now purchase city flag (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, April 7, 2009)
Seattle expects $43 million budget shortfall (Seattle Times, April 7, 2009)
Kirkland considers annexation, keeping Casino Caribbean open (Seattle Times, April 7, 2009)
Ruston officials broach idea of annexation with Tacoma (Tacoma News Tribune, April 7, 2009)
Camas continues to reduce 2009 budget (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, April 7, 2009)
City of Bainbridge begins to implement cuts (Brainbridge Review, April 3, 2009)
Council goes techie with laptops (Whidbey News Times, March 30, 2009)
County cuts non-union salaries by 5 percent (The Daily News, March 25, 2009)
Deputies eyed in [Island County] budget cuts (Whidbey News Times, March 24, 2009)
Bellingham City Council slashes 2009 budget (Bellingham Herald, March 23, 2009)
Council OKs bond to proceed with city hall (North Kitsap Herald, March 19, 2009)
Council mulls creative solutions to close $3.55 million funding gap (Bainbridge Review, March 18, 2009)
Cowlitz County unemployment rate rises to 14.4 percent (The Daily News, March 18, 2009)
King County budget shortfall now $40 million to $50 million (Seattle Times, March 18, 2009)
Pierce County Council plans deeper budget cuts (Tacoma News Tribune, March 18, 2009)
Economy Recovery Act has funds to add to police forces (Tri-City Herald, March 17, 2009)
Federal grant can strengthen public safety in Federal Way (Federal Way Mirror, March 17, 2009)
County banks on $400K in federal highway ‘stimulus’ funds (Islands Sounder, March 16, 2009)
Island County budget gap now tops $2 million (South Whidbey Record, March 12, 2009)
County officials may not get raises (The Olympian, March 12, 2009)
Sheriff critical of proposed cuts (The Olympian, March 10, 2009)
Cameras installed in Issaquah to watch traffic (Seattle Times March 10, 2009)
More Pierce County budget cuts coming (Tacoma News Tribune, March 10, 2009)
Bellingham brought in $30 million less than expected in 2008 (Bellingham Herald, March 10, 2009)
Feds give $3 million to Whatcom County housing and homeless programs (Bellingham Herald, March 9, 2009)
County faces federal suit over service animal policy (The Daily News, March 9, 2009)
Lacey to cut $2.1 million (The Olympian, March 6, 2009)
Federal Way hires federal lobbyist to strengthen connections with Washington, D.C. (Federal Way Mirror, March 6, 2009)
Franklin County looks to patch $500,000 gap in budget (Tri-City Herald, March 5, 2009)
Everson, Nooksack citizens talk merger (Lynden Tribune, March 4, 2009)
Bare-minimum revenue projections hint at scale of upcoming city cuts (Bainbridge Review, March 4, 2009)
33 counties in state to get federal disaster funds (Seattle Times, March 3, 2009)
Economy bleeds Federal Way's tax revenue (Federal Way Mirror, March 2, 2009)
County layoffs and cuts loom to trim $5.7 million (The Olympian, February 28, 2009)
Bellingham slashes budget again as revenues slide (Bellingham Herald, February 27, 2009)
Grant County celebrates centennial! (Columbia Basin Herald, February 25, 2009)
Richland fire chief pushes for more cooperation (Tri-City Herald, February 25, 2009)
Report finds inequalities in Washington criminal fines (Seattle PI, February 24, 2009)
County approves Enumclaw running 2009 fair (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, February 24, 2009)
Bainbridge government heads back to the chopping block (Bainbridge Review, February 22, 2009)
Island County looks at furloughs (South Whidbey Record, February 22, 2009)
Bainbridge change-of-government bill signed into law (Brainbridge Review, February 18, 2009)
Seattle mayor envisions volunteer "army" helping others (Seattle Times, February 18, 2009)
Neighborhoods say state shouldn't dictate development near Sound Transit light-rail stations (Seattle Times, February 17, 2009)
Franklin County puts spending on hold (Tri-City Herald, February 16, 2009)
Cities seek best Census count (Tacoma News Tribune, February 16, 2009)
Edgewood welcomes civic center (Tacoma News Tribune, February 16, 2009)
Island County to cut hours offices are open to public (South Whidbey Record, February 12, 2009)
Franklin, Pasco to study jail options (Tri-City Herald, February 11, 2009)
Kitsap pushes public participation (Port Orchard Independent, February 9, 2009)
New budget shortfall in Island County means more staff cuts (South Whidbey Record, February 4, 2009)
'Voters say "no" to charter-code form of government (Bonney Lake & Lake Tapps Courier-Herald, February 4, 2009)
King County holding first all-mail election (Seattle PI, February 3, 2009)
Benton County seat bill wins early OK (Tri-City Herald, January 30, 2009)
City's massive cost-cutting package unveiled and approved (Bainbridge Island Review, January 29, 2009)
Should the Tri-Cities consolidate? (Tri-City Herald, January 28, 2009)
Leaders wrestle with city's identity (Tri-City Herald, January 28, 2009)
Pierce County looks to cut $8 million (Tacoma News Tribune, January 28, 2009)
City to announce large-scale cuts (Bainbridge Island Review, January 28, 2009)
Bellingham orders more budget cuts as revenues falter (Bellingham Herald, January 16, 2009)
City may have to cut deeper (Bainbridge Island Review, January 16 2009)
Public will feel health and community services budget cuts (Islands Sounder, January 7, 2009)
Eyman files to limit most tax (Tacoma News Tribune, January 7, 2009)
West Richland workshops aim to boost feedback (Tri-City Herald, January 6, 2009)
Tacoma City Council OKs budget with pay increase (Tacoma News Tribune, December 17, 2008)
County lays off 18 employees (The Daily News, December 16, 2008)
County budget: Don't expect things to get better soon (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, December 10, 2008)
County budget cuts necessitate volunteerism (North Kitsap Herald, December 10, 2008)
Warnings of severe police cuts draw county exec's ire (Seattle PI, December 10, 2008)
Census shows state is richer, better educated than rest of US (Seattle PI, December 9, 2008)
Castle Rock raises taxes, borrows to balance budget (The Daily News, December 9, 2008)
Library system seeks to raise tax rate in effort to avoid cuts (The Olympian, December 9, 2008)
Tacoma police in line for big raises in 2009 (Tacoma News Tribune, December 8, 2008)
City negotiating furloughs to avoid layoffs (Bainbridge Review, December 2, 2008)
Small tax hike, big cuts balance budget (Whidbey News Times, December 2, 2008)
County aims to close budget gap (The Olympian, November 30, 2008)
County property owners will see tax bills increase in 2009; Commissioners declare financial emergency (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, November 24, 2008)
Bainbridge change of government vote set for steep climb (Bainbridge Island Review, November 24, 2008)
Cities set to tap reserve funds (Tacoma News Tribune, November 23, 2008)
Economic reality: County lays off six in planning (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, November 19, 2008)
Lynnwood tries for more turf in South Snohomish County (Seattle Times, November 18, 2008)
County proposes cuts, may need more (The Olympian, November 18, 2009)
King County deputies could face civilian oversight (Seattle Times, November 12, 2008)
South Sound cities nip, tuck budgets (Tacoma News Tribune, November 12, 2008)
County freezes hiring, requires review to fill vacant positions (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, November 11, 2008)
Island County to cut 30 jobs (South Whidbey Record, November 10, 2008)
Human services: Supply vs. demand in Federal Way (Federal Way Mirror, November 4, 2008)
Economic woe picks Lakewood’s pocket (Tacoma News Tribune, October 29, 2008)
County plans to save with 10 extra days of shutdowns (Seattle PI, October 27, 2008)
Pasco discusses redrawing districts (Tri-City Herald, October 26, 2008)
Kitsap mulls working four days a week (Port Orchard Independent, October 24, 2008)
Local mayors brace for bad economy (Seattle PI, October 23, 2008)
$21 million budget shortfall predicted for Snohomish County (Everett Herald, October 15, 2008)
$21 million budget shortfall predicted for Snohomish County (Everett Herald, October 15, 2008)
Sims announces a 'substantial number' of county layoffs, wage freezes (Seattle PI, October 7, 2008)
Programs for poor at highest risk with proposed county cuts (Seattle PI, October 7, 2008)
Pasco City Council to redraw voting districts map (Tri-City Herald, September 14, 2008)
Eyman wins court battle with county over ballot issue (Seattle PI, September 11, 2008)
Budget shortfall has Cowlitz County looking for cuts (The Daily News, September 9, 2008)
County's budget deficit grows (Seattle PI, September 5, 2008)
Faced with $7.2 million shortfall, Tacoma looks at tough cuts (Tacoma News Tribune, September 3, 2008)
Charter petition gets Feb. 3 election (Bonney Lake & Lake Tapps Courier-Herald, August 27, 2008)
Let the building of city hall begin (North Kitsap Herald, August 23, 2008)
Ruston to vote on whether to hire full-time professional manager (Tacoma News Tribune, August 12, 2008)
Measure would make amending King County charter more difficult (Seattle PI, July 28, 2008)
Voters may see county charter amendments (Seattle PI, July 8, 2008)
City Council gives Tacoma voters a say on term limits (Tacoma News Tribune, July 2, 2008)
Port of Seattle announces reforms (Seattle PI, July 1, 2008)
County asks departments to make cuts to relieve budget (The Olympian, June 11, 2008)
County budget cuts could reduce law enforcement efforts (Seattle PI, June 6, 2008)
New Web site offers insight into local trends (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, May 28, 2008)
City involves community in parks development (The Northern Light, May 22, 2008)
Public records requests successful, audit says (Tri-City Herald, May 20, 2008)
City of Vancouver might increase taxes to avert cuts in police, fire (The Columbian, May 12, 2008)
Commissioners: Can we kill casino? (The Columbian, May 9, 2008)
Ballots sent out for fire merger (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, May 7, 2008)
Proposed taxing district for aquatic park approved (Tri-City Herald, May 7, 2008)
New Mukilteo City Hall going green (Everett Herald, April 28, 2008)
Communicating with the public (Whidbey News Times, April 9, 2008)
Goodbye blues: Third of Tacoma police force eligible to retire soon (Tacoma News Tribune, March 26, 2008)
County commissioners get ball rolling on health services consolidation (Tri-City Herald, March 25, 2008)
Vancouver begins custom news feed (The Columbian, March 24, 2008)
City wants to annex into Sno-Isle Libraries (Lake Stevens Journal, March 19, 2008)
County pulls the plug on the fair (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, March 5, 2008)
Pierce County Council tightens ethics policy (Tacoma News Tribune, March 5, 2008)
Mukilteo ready to build $8 million city hall (Everett Herald, March 3, 2008)
City moves ahead on waterfront authority (Bellingham Herald, February 26, 2008)
Are retreats working vacations or just work? (Tacoma News Tribune, February 24, 2008)
Voters reject mayor-council proposal (Federal Way Mirror, February 20, 2008)
City council adopts standing committees (Whidbey News Times, February 16, 2008)
Federal Way voters will get final word on strong mayor (Tacoma News Tribune, February 4, 2008)
Poulsbo signs city hall building contract (North Kitsap Herald, January 26, 2008)
Fire districts begin process of unifying (The Columbian, January 8, 2008)
Chamber opposes ‘mayor-council’ proposal (Federal Way Mirror, December 31, 2007)
Streaming live video in County Council's future (Seattle Times, December 26, 2007)
Poulsbo city council shuffles committee process (North Kitsap Herald, December 12, 2007)
A move to change partisan offices (Seattle PI, December 7, 2007)
City Council rescinds tax vote law, takes portion of 'banked' capacity (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, November 27, 2007)
Elected mayor movement ripens (Federal Way Mirror, November 19, 2007)
$3.9 million bonds for City Hall authorized (Lynden Tribune, November 7, 2007)
County offers curb service for voters (Port Orchard Independent, October 20, 2007)
Ethics board maps gray areas (Bainbridge Island Review, October 10, 2007)
Voters will decide on elected mayor (Federal Way Mirror, September 29, 2007)
DuPont starts Civic Center work (The Olympian, September 9, 2007)
Political signs stir up more debate (Bainbridge Island Review, September 5, 2007)
Push for elected mayor clears hurdle (Federal Way Mirror, August 8, 2007)
Monroe City Council Could Be a Click Away (Herald Net, July 30, 2007)
Will ruffians run from Mozart? "Uncool" Music Coming to Bus Stops (News Tribune, July 30, 2007)
DuPont Tackles ‘Facility Crisis’ (The News Tribune, July 23, 2007)
DuPont hopes to start on civic center in January (The Olympian, July 18, 2007)
Fire District 8 Weighs City Campus - Lake Stevens (HeraldNet, June 18, 2007)
Marysville Could Grow by 20,000 in One Swoop (Everett HeraldNet, June 11, 2007
Marysville Could Grow by 20,000 in One Swoop (Everett HeraldNet, June 11, 2007
'Strong Mayor' Deja Vu? (Port Townsend Leader, June 11, 2007)
Municipal ID Card Approved - Hartford, Connecticut (Hartford Courant, June 5, 2007)
County approves climate change resolution (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, May 29, 2007)
Panel backs working together (Tri-City Herald, Apr 9, 2007)
Lake Stevens dreams of campus for city offices (Everett Herald, Apr 9, 2007)
City hall in works for Snoqualmie (The Olympian, Apr 8, 2007)
Delegates travel from Poland to learn about open government (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, Apr 3, 2007)
Mukilteo agrees on city hall layout (Everett Herald, Mar 21, 2007)
Planners to get Parliamentary Procedure tips (Port Orchard Independent, Mar 9, 2007)
Council set to change city wards (Bonney Lake & Lake Tapps Courier Herald, Feb 28, 2007)
City Council adopts peace resolution (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, Feb 21, 2007)
W. Richland still wrestling with identity (Tri-City Herald, Feb 5, 2007)
Councils' retreats often remote (Everett Herald, Feb 4, 2007)
Cities tout successes in growth, other areas (Tri-City Herald, Feb 1, 2007)
Paper critical of Sunnsyide council makeup (Tri-City Herald, Jan 22, 2007)
Election officials warn about ballot translation (Tri-City Herald, Jan 18, 2007)
Public records requests pile up in Prosser (Tri-City Herald, Jan 15, 2007)
Councilman wants his e-mail to be open book (Seattle Times, Jan 15, 2007)
Leaders seek help to rank city programs (The Olympian, Jan 9, 2007)
Committees a blessing and a curse for city (Bainbridge Island Review, Jan 6, 2007)
City hall timeline unveiled in Poulsbo (North Kitsap Herald, Jan 5, 2007)
New City Hall planning begins (Lynden Tribune, Jan 3, 2007)