There is a movement to change the way sales tax is collected. A number of states have signed a compact to participate in what is known as the “Streamlined Sales Tax Project,” Washington included. The stated goal of the project is to simplify and make uniform sales tax laws, but to the uninitiated, it must be said, even the new system seems incredibly convoluted.

Why capturing sales tax is difficult

Forty-six states impose sales taxes. Collecting sales tax across state lines is tricky, however, because the nation has 7,500 state and local taxing jurisdictions with rules and rates of their own.

On Saturday, March 3, the public is invited to preview new trails, native plant landscaping, emerging wetlands habitat and rebuilt salmon-bearing stream corridors being developed as part of the Brightwater Treatment Plant project.The hour-long guided walking tours will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning at the Brightwater project office, 22509 State Route 9 S.E., Woodinville.

King County is investing $8 million to restore 43 acres of underused, environmentally damaged land on the north portion of the 114-acre Brightwater site, which will transform the area into a community asset when construction is completed later this year.

At its Feb. 10 Council Retreat, Bothell City Council determined its top six 2007 project goals; Council then ratified these goals at its Feb. 20 regular meeting. The goals include the following:

• Update Downtown Plan and determine key City of Bothell facilities as part of Downtown Plan
• Finalize and implement Development Services Initiative/Action Plan
• Advance development agreement of Northshore School District downtown property and begin construction of joint School District/City Public Works Shops

Courtesy Photo
COP(s) members John Smith, Diane Salz and Ed Hughes patrol the streets during last year’s Duvall Days. The successful Citizens on Patrol program started six years ago in an attempt to deal with large numbers of youths on the streets on Friday nights.

Streets quieter due to citizen involvement

COP(s) in Duvall have worked themselves out of a job. And that’s good.

The COP(s) program (Citizens on Patrol) was started in the Duvall area almost six years ago.

“Some businesses were having problems with lots of kids,” said Barb Smith, coordinator for the program. “Mostly they were an annoyance to businesses,” she explained, “with some graffiti and uprooting of trees and plants.”

Photo by Leanne Christensen
PARADE program classes in the Riverview School District offer additional learning and support for home-schooled students. Students in the program attend classes for one to one and a half days per week.

The Riverview School District PARADE program was created to support families who want to home-educate their children, in collaboration with the school district.

Within this program parents are the primary educators, teaching their child for a minimum of 20 hours each week. Students attend PARADE classes in their RSD building classroom for one to one and a half days a week.

In 2006 the Riverview Educational Foundation had a banner year, and Riverview students will be reaping the rewards.

Thanks to three successful fundraising events and numerous donations through United Way and other sources, this February REF was able to award over $39,000 in grants to teachers and schools in the Riverview School District. In addition, the Foundation is establishing three $2,000 scholarships that will be awarded at the end of the school year.

Last September REF held its 8th annual “REF Golf Classic” and its first Dinner/Auction event, “On Par for Education.”