Some positive steps forward on the economic development front

Cities made small but significant economic development gains in 2017. Tourism office/authority reinvestment efforts were successful with a $500,000 appropriation dedicated to a new Tourism Marketing Authority in the state. Unfortunately, legislation setting up the authority was caught up in the capital budget drama at the end of session and was not successful in passing. The appropriation is a great step forward, and the failure to pass a bill should not hamper efforts to revive a tourism effort in Washington.

In addition to tourism marketing, bills providing new authorities and funds to cities to promote creative districts and aviation projects made it to the Governor’s desk. For cities with Public Facilities Districts (PFD), HB 1201 extends the time that the PFD sales tax can be collected and expands the eligible uses of the tax revenue.