District 12 Legislators address budget, education, and housing concerns in virtual town hall

OLYMPIA – State District 12 Legislators Senator Keith Goehner, Representative Mike Steele, and Representative Brian Burnett addressed key challenges facing Washington state in a virtual community town hall on March 20. The community meeting included budget issues, education, and housing.

“There's nothing better than learning from you, hearing from you [about] what's important. I just want you to know we take that to heart and in consideration to everything that we do,” said Rep. Burnett.

The state’s budget was top of mind during the meeting as lawmakers prepare to negotiate the 2025-27 biennium budget, facing an operating budget shortfall of an estimated $15 billion over the next four years. The Republican representatives expressed the need to curtail new spending rather than increasing taxes and fees. 

“We're not living within our means…We're spending more than we have. And again, this is not a revenues issue. This is a spending issue,” said Rep. Steele.

The lawmakers cautioned against the Senate Democrats’ property tax proposal as a means to balance the budget, calling it a “regressive tax.” The proposal would increase in annual property tax growth from the current 1 percent cap to the combined rate of population growth plus inflation. 

On the topic of housing, Sen. Goehner, who sits on the related committee, discussed his support for more housing options through his sponsorship of middle housing allowed in Urban Growth Areas (UGA). However, he could not support the proposed rent control cap of 7 percent annually.

“I talked with a number of low income housing people, and they've encouraged me to support that, and I've told them I can't support it, because I really do care about low income housing people. Because if this goes in, it's shown to be across the nation to actually be a deterrent to more housing being built,” said Sen. Goehner.

Education also received significant attention during the town hall, with concerns of budget declines and dwindling resources from a local teacher. The representatives affirmed their commitment to education funding in the budget, as well as exploring additional means of support. Concerns also arose from a retired teacher regarding the need for a permanent cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for closed retirement plans. 

“It's something that I care deeply about. I know it's something that Sen. Goehner cares deeply about, and I know it's something that Rep. Burnett is absolutely behind, and it's something we all believe…That a promise made should be a promise kept,” said Rep. Steele.

Additionally, Rep. Burnett discussed his first legislative bill proposal, House Bill 1969, which would provide financial assistance to local law enforcement aviation support units. The bill passed the House floor and is currently under review in the Senate.

“That's just going to help provide some funding for our four agencies in Washington State, which [are] Snohomish, King, Chelan and Spokane, that [have] rotary programs primarily for search and rescue,” said Rep. Burnett.

Comments and questions can be left for the legislators via the toll free legislative hotline: 1-800-562-6000.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media