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Flood bills clear hurdles in
Olympia
Property tax relief and flood control funding
still in lawmakers' sites
Two measures aimed at
addressing flood issues along the Chehalis River won approval of the state House of Representatives this week. In
addition, $50 million earmarked for a flood control plan in the Chehalis
River basin
was included in the House capital budget released Wednesday, earning
the approval of 20th District Reps. Gary Alexander and Richard DeBolt.
"We're pleased with the
response from our colleagues to this budget request," said Alexander,
R-Olympia, who is the prime sponsor of the bill that appropriates the
money that will be used (House Bill 3375). "We're confident that we will
have an opportunity to get flood control efforts moving with this
funding, and work with the state and federal government and the three
local counties to develop a
basin-wide solution. We've got a good piece of legislation that
calls for local participation and collaboration. We're driving
toward a plan that protects everyone, not just the freeway."
The House capital budget
also includes $250,000 to conduct an inventory of flood warning systems
throughout the state. The study would provide recommendations as to
which areas have a need for better warning systems and how the state can
assist local governments with start-up costs.
On Tuesday, the House
unanimously approved House Bill 3137, which would provide property tax
relief for flood-damaged agricultural lands. The bill, prime
sponsored by DeBolt, originally offered tax relief for all property
owners who suffered damage from the flood. But a Democrat amendment
limited the relief to agriculture.
"I am disappointed the tax relief
has been scaled back, but it's still moving through the
process, so there's an opportunity to continue working on it," said DeBolt, R-Chehalis. "If we can get relief to farmers, we'll
certainly take it."
DeBolt noted that other
property owners who suffered damage may be eligible for relief under
current law, if the value of their property was diminished by at least
20 percent.
The House Tuesday also
approved House Bill 2525, which would allow hydraulic projects to mitigate
flood damage to be conducted with oral approval from the Department of
Fish and Wildlife when there has been an emergency declaration by the
county or state. The bill would also require the state to
approve hydraulic projects, such as debris removal and bank
restoration, in areas where chronic flood danger exists. Such
projects would be exempt from mitigation requirements under the State
Environmental Policy Act.
"This bill allows
landowners and counties to be more proactive and minimize the risk
of imminent flooding without fear of having to come back and satisfy
costly regulatory requirements," DeBolt said. "It's a
good-government, common sense proposal."
House Bills 2525 and 3137
now go to the Senate for consideration.
Another DeBolt bill, House Bill
3138, would provide flood victims with an exemption from sales and use
taxes in order to reduce the cost of labor and materials needed to repair their homes and
properties. That bill remains stuck in the House Rules Committee,
but DeBolt said he is continuing negotiations to get the bill moving before
lawmakers adjourn March 13.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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