Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts

Shoreline draft budget would increase funding for a pool and homelessness while avoiding recession risk

Sunday, September 22, 2024

The City purchased the storage court on Midvale as a site for an aquatics center.
Photo from Google

By Oliver Moffat

The Shoreline city council reviewed the city’s financial report and draft budget and capital improvement plan at the September 16 city council meeting.

City staff told the council  “the City continues to maintain a healthy financial position, including maintenance of its AA+ bond rating and a Standard & Poor’s (S&P) ratings outlook of “stable.” The proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Budget will continue to be balanced and in compliance with the City’s financial and reserve policies.”

The proposed budget includes more funding for human services and homelessness and money for another aquatics center ballot measure.

The city also wants $720.9k to ask voters (again) to approve an aquatics center on the November 2026 general election ballot. A bond measure in 2019 to pay for the pool failed to pass because it required 60% approval and only received 54% of the votes. 

In 2020, the city bought the storage court north of city hall as the future site of the aquatics center and (according to the city’s 2024 financial report) earned $662,518 on the property. 

Now the city wants to spend $720.9k on “public engagement, planning, conceptual design, cost estimating, ballot measure development, and preparation for design development and permitting” for the pool.

Currently the city plans to spend $624,112 next year on human services and homelessness - 1.0% of its general fund revenues. The city wants to increase that funding by $323.4k to dedicate a full-time employee to focus on managing the city’s human services programs and data collection. 

And the city would increase support for the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center, homelessness outreach, severe weather sheltering, utility assistance, and holiday baskets.

The city also requested $100k to commission an Affordable Housing Feasibility Study. Despite repeated resident requests for the city to take action on homelessness, in April, the Shoreline council approved a housing and human services plan that recommended the city instead “Maintain Current Level of Service” while city staff continue to study the problem.

Last week, the council reviewed the biennial resident satisfaction survey in which residents said, of all city services, they were most dissatisfied with Shoreline’s “overall response to homelessness” and residents said the city should do more to address homelessness - more than any other city service. In 2020 and again in 2022, residents told the city the same.

The city council will review a report from the King County Regional Homelessness Authority at the September 23 meeting and city staff said they will present the council with specifics on the human services and homelessness plan at the October 21 meeting.

A graph from the city shows Shoreline operating budget forecast

The city is forecasting the probability of a recession in 2025 or 2026 at about 30-45% - which would not only exacerbate homelessness but could also lower revenue from sales tax and property taxes.

Because of high Interest rates and construction costs revenue from real estate fees and taxes have decreased. Compared to last year, Real Estate Excise Tax revenue for streets and sidewalks are down nearly 25% and Park Impact Fee revenue for park improvements are down more than 50%.

Sales tax revenue was up nearly 25% compared to last year but the city is forecasting revenue to remain flat as construction cools in the city.

The city’s largest revenue source is property tax. When shoreline voters last approved a levy lid lift in 2022, the city said the property tax rate would be $1.39 per $1000 of assessed value. With cooling real estate sales, the King County Assessor decreased Shoreline’s assessed value in 2024, resulting in a higher tax rate of $1.62 per $1000.

Under state law, the combined property tax rate for the city, fire department and library may not exceed $3.60 per $1000. Libraries are allowed to charge up to $0.50 and fire departments can charge as much as $1.50 of that $3.60 per $1000.

Which means that if Shoreline’s assessed value continues to decline and the fire department and library also increase their rates, the city could reach the maximum property tax limit leading to a budget shortfall.

The city council will hold public hearings on the proposed budget, property taxes, fees, and Capital Improvement Plan on November 4 and November 18.


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School district to hold online community budget meetings - open to all

Friday, September 20, 2024

Superintendent Susana Reyes and Assistant Superintendent
of Business and Operations Angela Von Essen 

As Shoreline School District works to address the budget emergency that they face for the 2024-25 school year and beyond, they are holding a series of community budget meetings that are open to families, students, staff, and community members. 

All meetings will be held via Zoom with an opportunity for Q&A by attendees.

Superintendent Susana Reyes and Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Angela Von Essen will share:
  • Budget Emergency Key Points
  • Four-Year General Fund Budget Forecast
  • Where Does the Money Come From?
  • Where Does the Money Go?
  • Compensation and Staffing
  • Enrollment Projections
  • Budget Alignment Options
  • Strategic Plan Guidance
Community Budget Meeting Schedule

Monday, September 23
6:00 - 7:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 898 4468 4283
Passcode: 197506
Dial-In Phone Numbers: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-900-6833

Thursday, September 26
5:00 - 6:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 881 5288 5227
Passcode: 313956
Dial-In Phone Numbers: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-900-6833

Tuesday, October 1
7:00 - 8:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 879 6267 9322
Passcode: 428751
Dial-In Phone Numbers: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-900-6833

The district is committed to maintaining the high-quality educational services that students deserve while exploring how to achieve the budget alignment they need. In good faith to our community, district leadership and the School Board will continue to work toward a balanced budget that limits the impact on students.

Learn more here


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Free financial aid lab at Shoreline Community College

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Starting college this fall! 

Free financial aid lab on 9/11, 9/18 or 9/25 will help you fill out your financial aid forms.

Sign up here


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Do you have money in an unclaimed property fund?

Monday, September 2, 2024

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that he recovered more than $5.2 million plus interest that Washingtonians can claim through the state’s unclaimed property program. 

The money comes to Washington as a result of Ferguson’s lawsuit over uncashed checks issued by international money transfer company MoneyGram.

Washington’s unclaimed property program, which is administered by the state Department of Revenue, works to return unclaimed or abandoned funds and other property to its rightful owners. 
That can include uncashed checks, funds in bank accounts, insurance proceeds, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, consumer credits and more. 

To search for unclaimed property in your name, go to www.ClaimYourCash.org

The $5.2 million is part of a more than $190 million resolution between Delaware and a bipartisan coalition of 30 states to ensure that the funds from the uncashed MoneyGram checks were returned to their states’ residents.

“This money belongs to Washingtonians,” said Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “Every Washingtonian should visit the unclaimed property program’s website to see if they have funds waiting to be claimed.”

The funds come from uncashed prepaid MoneyGram checks that people can purchase from banks or credit unions. After the checks are purchased, the issuing financial institution pays MoneyGram the amount of the check. MoneyGram then uses the funds to reimburse the financial institution that cashes the check. If the check recipient fails to cash the check, the money becomes unclaimed property.

Delaware originally took possession of the funds regardless of where the checks were issued, since MoneyGram is headquartered there. 

Ferguson and the bipartisan group of states sued Delaware, arguing that, under a federal law regulating abandoned money orders and travelers’ checks, the unclaimed funds should be returned to the states where the checks were issued to be disbursed as unclaimed property. 

The case was heard at the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in Ferguson’s and the states’ favor.

According to the Department of Revenue’s unclaimed property website, Washington’s program has returned more than $1.5 billion in unclaimed funds to Washingtonians. 

For more information on Washington’s unclaimed property program, or to search for unclaimed funds in your name, visit www.ClaimYourCash.org.

Checks that were issued in 2008 or earlier may still be available through Delaware’s unclaimed property program. Visit Delaware's unclaimed property to check if you have older unclaimed funds available in Delaware.


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Shoreline Profit Mastery offers business owners financial knowledge

Sunday, August 4, 2024

SHORELINE, WA.—The Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in partnership with the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce is hosting a three-day Profit Mastery course August 27-29, 2024.

The course is for business owners who want to improve their ability to make data-driven decisions about their business growth.

"Most solo business owners don’t have a business degree or financial training, so staying viable is a big challenge,” said Shoreline Chamber of Commerce President Lara Grauer. 
“Our members told us that business finance is high on their list to learn about, so we’re thrilled to partner with the Washington SBDC and bring Profit Mastery to Shoreline!"

Profit Mastery is an internationally acclaimed financial management program that has been helping business owners and financial managers overcome common business problems and improve performance for more than 40 years. 

In partnership with the Profit Mastery organization, the Washington SBDC is able to offer this course at a steep discount for workshop participants.

“The training provides an understanding of what your business numbers are telling you, and how to use that information to plan for pricing, profitability, financing, growing sales, positive cash, and business valuation,” said Jennifer Shelton, the SBDC advisor in Shoreline.

Course participants will learn to use the Profit Mastery system of analysis to understand their financial position, evaluate cost patterns, set effective prices, leverage financial resources and plan for growth or succession.

Ron Nielsen, an experienced entrepreneur and an SBDC advisor for more than 20 years, will be facilitating the course. United Business Bank will be providing light refreshments.

Feedback from past participants includes testimonials such as this: 

“This is a very detailed and highly informative course addressing the most pressing questions and most confusing issues facing small business owners today. Worth every penny and every minute. Ron did a great job of helping the individuals in the group grasp the material in a meaningful way.”

The workshop is scheduled for 8am to 2:30pm, August 27, 28 and 29 at the Seattle Scottish Rite, 1207 N 152nd St, Shoreline WA 98133. 

The cost is $595 per person and includes a Profit Mastery Guide and three months registration to Profit Mastery University Online. 

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Millions to come back to state as tobacco settlement bonds are paid off

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

SEATTLE – With the final payment of bonds issued two decades ago, the Washington State Tobacco Settlement Authority (TSA) has dissolved.

As a result, an average of $30 million a year will now flow directly to state coffers instead of being used to repay the bonds, which were issued to close a hole in the state budget in 2002.

“We are proud of how well the staff have managed these bonds with the state’s fiscal interests foremost in mind,” said Carla M. DewBerry, chair of the TSA board. “We’ve done what we were created to do, and done it very well.”

The Tobacco Settlement Authority is an independent Governor-appointed board, staffed by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission due to the Commission’s expertise in issuing and managing bonds.

Over the past 22 years, that expertise led to twice refinancing the bonds to take advantage of favorable market conditions. The refinancings in 2013 and 2018, plus the early payoff in 2024, may have saved the state as much as $380 million in interest over the life of the bonds.

Because the bonds were issued by the TSA, the state had no financial risk or obligation for them.

In 2002, the state legislature created the TSA in order to quickly raise $450 million to help resolve a recession-related budget crisis. The bond sale to investors essentially borrowed against a $4 billion settlement that the state reached in the late 1990s with major tobacco companies over violations of antitrust and consumer-protection laws.

From the original bond sale until now, 29.2 percent of the state’s annual payment from the tobacco settlement has been diverted to pay back the bonds. Starting in 2025, this amount – an average of $30 million a year – will go straight to the state’s general fund instead.

With the TSA dissolved, the Housing Finance Commission has agreed to take on any remaining responsibilities that may arise over the next six years, such as the final audit and retaining records.

“We’re very grateful for the leadership of our board over the years, and take a lot of satisfaction in the completion of our task,” said Steve Walker, executive director of both the Tobacco Settlement Authority and Housing Finance Commission. 
“Thankfully, the staff hours that were dedicated to TSA can easily be reallocated to other projects.”


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Guaranteed college financial aid coming to WA students on food assistance

Monday, April 29, 2024

By Grace Deng
Washington State Standard

Students from families on Washington’s food assistance programs will soon automatically qualify for financial aid to attend college.

That’s due to a new state law, House Bill 2214, that guarantees state financial aid for students enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP for short and sometimes called food stamps. The law calls for the automatic tuition aid to be available by the 2025-26 school year.

“If you’re looking for the one program that connects the largest number of low-income households in the state, it would be SNAP,” said Michael Meotti, executive director of the Washington Student Achievement Council, which introduced the idea to lawmakers.

HB 2214 is the first law of its kind in the country, Meotti said.

In Washington, SNAP is called Basic Food. Generally, a household must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify. That’s $60,000 a year for a household of four.

For legal immigrants who don’t qualify for SNAP, the state runs the Food Assistance Program. Households in that program will also automatically qualify for college financial aid.

The funds will come from the Washington College Grant, which already allows the state to offer more need-based financial aid to students than anywhere else in the country.

A ‘game-changer’

Meotti called the law a “game-changer,” because it will allow students to start planning for their futures without having to worry about what will happen if they don’t win scholarships or qualify for financial aid.

“Washington has this hugely generous state financial aid program,” Meotti said, referring to the Washington College Grant. “We can tell you about it, but you won’t know if you’re getting it until the spring of your senior year in high school.”

High school students often give up on higher education early on, Meotti said, for reasons including the high cost of tuition. Meotti hopes guaranteeing financial aid will encourage more students to pursue college and see that it’s an obtainable goal.

Financial aid applications can also be complex and hard to understand, especially for first-generation students whose families don’t have a history of applying.

Washington officials want students to continue to apply for federal aid regardless if they will automatically qualify for state aid, but hope that guaranteeing aid will help remove the barriers that come with financial aid applications.

Guaranteed college financial aid coming for WA for students on food assistance How will it work?

Starting in 10th grade, students eligible for food assistance will receive one year of free college tuition. If the student is still enrolled in food aid programs by 11th grade, they’ll receive two years of free college, and so on, for upwards of three years of free college.

While the fourth year isn’t covered, Meotti said that students will be able to get a free ride if they apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA. By then, Meotti hopes students will have the resources they need to apply.

The Washington Student Achievement Council is still hammering out details of how the program will work. The council is also recruiting partners to help them figure out how best to reach students.

They’re also still trying to figure out how to make sure families know that the program isn’t too good to be true — Meotti pointed to how skeptical families are when they hear about free community college programs like Seattle Promise.

“We want to be very savvy about how to make sure we don’t stimulate that kind of reaction,” Meotti said.

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College financial aid available to Washington students

Friday, April 5, 2024

It's messy and difficult but there's money to be had and help available

The only way for students to qualify for financial aid for college or career training is to complete the FAFSA, or in limited cases the WASFA.

Despite challenges with the new FAFSA form, students are advised to complete an application now because:
  • The form is shorter and easier: Applying is the only way for students to know how much money they can get.
  • More money is available: More people are eligible to receive federal Pell Grants, and the average grant is expected to be larger.
  • Washington aid is generous and flexible: The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) gives eligible people more money for more types of education like certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships, or college—and the FAFSA is the first step for that, too.

Advise students in your networks not to give up. Colleges know some people are running into issues with the FAFSA and many are being flexible.

There is help available to get the application done. 

Students and families in Washington can consult organizations like Futures Northwest and WSAC for information on the benefits of applying for financial aid, known challenges with the FAFSA/WASFA process, and links to resources that can help, such as local and virtual financial aid events and the OtterBot texting service. This Washington Student Achievement Council resource page is also available in Spanish.

It’s worth it to apply for financial aid, and there is still time!

Access FAFSA resources


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Rent Smart webinar: Fees and Deposits - April 10, 2024

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Rent Smart: Fees and Deposits - webinar on Wednesday, April 10, 3-4:45pm.

  • Have you ever been charged a fee by your landlord, and you don’t know why? Is it even legal? 
  • Have you vacated from a rental, and you didn’t get your deposit back?

Join this webinar from Solid Ground tenant counselors and legal advisors to discuss which fees landlords are permitted to impose and which ones are illegal. 

Learn about deposits when applying for a new rental and how to go about getting your deposit back when you move out.

A visiting attorney from the Tenant Law Center will also be on hand to help with answering questions.

If you are currently living in King County and being threatened with eviction, contact the Housing Justice Project for legal assistance at 206-267-7069 or hjpstaff@kcba.org

Upcoming Rent Smart Webinars


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Congresswoman Jayapal announces a new student debt reduction initiative

Monday, February 19, 2024

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-7th congressional district
From Rep. Pramila Jayapal

My Congressional Progressive Caucus colleagues and I have made student debt cancellation a priority. 

I cheered when President Biden announced his plan to cancel up to $20k in student loan debt for 43 million people and, after the Supreme Court struck it down, was quick to call for the President to use all other powers he has to get Washington's 7th district the relief our neighbors desperately need.

The President has continually taken those actions — including just canceling $5 billion in loans for teachers, nurses, and firefighters — and recently announced a major new initiative.

Starting this month, if you took out less than $12,000 in loans and have been in repayment for 10 years, ALL of your debt will be canceled.

That’s right — your loan balance could go down to zero. For many others, monthly payments will be drastically reduced.

To get that relief and other ways to bring down your monthly loan payments, you need to be enrolled in the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. 

This is the same plan that ensures no borrower who makes less than $15 an hour will have to make any student loan payments. It will also make sure that interest doesn't pile up and increase your debt amount, and that your spouse's income can't be used to drive up your payment amount.

Sign up for the SAVE Plan today so you get this relief before your next payment is due.

Rep. Jayapal represents the 7th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. Contact her offices here. The district encompasses most of Seattle and surrounding areas including Shoreline, Vashon Island, Lake Forest Park, and parts of Burien and Normandy Park.


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Senator Patty Murray tours the 148th Light Rail Station site and announces federal funding for 148th St Pedestrian Bridge

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Sen. Patty Murray at podium. L-R Deputy Mayor Laura Mork, Shoreline Public Works Director Tricia Juhnke, Mayor Chris Roberts, King County Executive Dow Constantine, in the parking garage for the 148th Light Rail station. View to the west. Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Oliver Moffat

On Valentine’s Day afternoon, Senator Patty Murray took some time to tour the construction site of the 148th Street light-rail station with King County Executive Dow Constantine, Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts and Deputy Mayor Laura Mork.

Standing at a podium in the new 500-car parking garage with the roar of midday I-5 traffic behind her, Murray said, “a light rail station does no good if you’re stuck on the other side of a busy highway.”

A view from the city’s website of the light rail tracks, and future bridge, and east landing looking west across I-5.

Nearby, construction workers were busy drilling shafts into the ground that will hold the footings of the east-side landing of the 148th St bike and pedestrian bridge. Crews are working to complete construction of the 148th St bridge before WSDOT begins a project to daylight Thornton creek on the west side of I-5.

Deputy Mayor Mork, Mayor Roberts, Sen. Murray
The 148th St bridge will provide a safe path to the light rail station for the future residents of the 1,605 new homes coming soon in the south Parkwood neighborhood including 151 “missing middle” townhomes and 296 affordable apartments.

With an estimated price tag of $43.6M, the bridge will be funded with grants from the Washington Department of Transportation, Sound Transit, King County, Transportation Impact Fees, and (the reason why Murray came by to visit) a $20M federal RAISE grant.

Sen. Patty Murray with Sound Transit, city of Shoreline and King county electeds and staff in the under construction 148th Street parking garage for the Lynnwood Link light rail station. The pedestrian bridge will cross I-5 next to the cell phone tower in the background.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Senator Murray, who has served in the Senate for over 30 years and is now president pro tem, established the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program in 2009. As every Shoreliner knows, Murray won her first election to the Shoreline school board in the 1980s and now chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The ripe smell of fresh mulch wafted in the air from crews who were busy planting some of the 864 new trees that will replace the 317 existing trees that have been removed to make way for the 145th street projects.

Mayor Chris Roberts presented Senator Murray with a
Valentine’s Day cookie reading “Shoreline ♥️ Patty”
Photo by Oliver Moffat
In remarks, Mayor Chris Roberts pointed out that (unlike some cities in North King County) Shoreline has embraced the task of building affordable housing to address the region’s housing crisis. 

He said he is proud that the new developments near Shoreline’s light-rail stations have mandatory affordability requirements.

In addition to the bicycle and pedestrian bridge across I-5, the money from the RAISE grant will be used to pay for new sidewalks and roundabouts on 145th and a network of bike lanes in the Parkwood neighborhood - safety improvements that are urgently needed for the dangerously outdated 145th street corridor.


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With dwindling enrollment and budget shortfalls, a new Task Force studies elementary school closure

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Assistant Superintendent Brian Shultz gets into the data (literally) with the Capacity and Closure task force at a recent Tuesday night meeting. Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

At its peak in 1959, Shoreline High School enrolled 1,900 students; but, due to dwindling enrollment and budget shortfalls the home of the Spartans was shut down in 1986.

On a recent Tuesday night, more than twenty parents, members of the community and school district staff gathered in the former school building to take on the difficult and possibly painful task of identifying which elementary school the district might close in 2025.

Once home to three high schools, five junior highs and nineteen elementary schools with nearly 18,000 students at its peak, the Shoreline School District has shrunk to just over 9000 students and is once again facing budget shortfalls. 

Shoreline has a long history of closing schools dating back to the end of the baby boom more than fifty years ago. The last time Shoreline went through this painful process was in 2006 when the district shuttered North City Elementary and Sunset Elementary.

The district’s handling of the 2006 school closures led to controversy. But this time, the district is hoping increased transparency and community involvement will help avoid the kind of rancor that has been seen in other districts across the state that are closing schools as a result of declining enrollment.


The district has assembled a task force called the School Capacity Review and Closure Consideration (SCRCC) which met for the first time on Tuesday night, February 6, 2024. 

The task force is chartered only with the job of making a recommendation about which school to close and will meet monthly to study data before presenting a recommendation next fall to the school board. 

The final decision on whether to close a school and if so, which one, will be up to the elected School Board and Superintendent Dr. Susana Reyes. The board and superintendent are empowered to make decisions such as this entirely on their own without consulting the community. The closure decision and any new school boundaries should be finalized in time for Kindergarten open enrollment in January of 2025.

Thick binders filled with data were placed on the tables in front of each of the task force members and district employees presented detailed statistics at the Tuesday night meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Brian Schultz told the task force that prior to 2020 the district was considering reopening North City Elementary. However, by 2022, budget shortfalls caused the district to make sudden deep cuts that prompted an outpouring of emotions from staff and community last year. And budget cut negotiations in the Spring of 2023 led to distrust and acrimony.

School board policy requires the district to hold liquid savings of between 4-5% of budgeted expenses and is the district’s key indicator of financial health. 

A slide from a January 8 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting shows the Shoreline School District’s declining funds

According to data shared at the January 8 Budget Advisory Committee meeting, the unreserved fund has been in decline from nearly 18% for the 2015-16 school year to 1.4% for the 2023-24 budget. COVID relief funds during the 2020-21 school year temporarily buoyed the budget, but it became clear the budget was in crisis when the indicator fell to 2.6% for the 2021-22 year.

Also presented to the task force was a Demographer Report commissioned by the district. Although the population of King County is projected to continue to grow, the birth rate has been declining since 2016, according to that report. In Washington State, school funding is tied to enrollment and districts are limited in how much money they can raise in local levies.

The task force will also consider the physical condition of each of the aging buildings and could factor the costs of necessary future building upgrades into the decision.

Another factor the task force will be considering this time around that was not considered in previous closure decisions is race, equity and the impact a school closure has on families in the community. 

In comments at the December 5 School Board meeting, Shultz said, historically, school closures have disproportionately targeted the most impoverished communities with the greatest needs and families of color.

This time, the district plans to proactively engage with the community, not just members of the community that have the time and resources to sit on committees, by using affinity groups, community forums and surveys. The task force will be using a Race & Equity Impact Decision-Making Tool to interrupt biases and think more broadly about all the people in the community.

Parents and other members of the community are encouraged to get involved and stay informed. The Strategic Planning Coalition meets monthly to draft the district’s first strategic plan. The Budget Advisory Team (BAT) meets monthly and receives detailed presentations on the districts budget. Parents can join their school’s PTA. And the public can attend regular School Board Meetings.


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AG Ferguson: Providence must provide $157.8 million in refunds and debt relief for unlawful medical charges to low-income Washingtonians

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Providence, one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems, must forgive more than $137 million in medical debt and refund more than $20 million to patients the company billed for services despite knowing they likely qualified for free or reduced-cost health care. 

The $157.8 million resolution will provide full refunds, plus interest, and debt forgiveness for 99,446 individuals. It is the largest resolution of its kind in the country.

State law requires hospitals to provide medical financial assistance, also known as charity care, to Washingtonians based on their income level — for both insured and uninsured patients. Hospitals are required to notify patients about this protection and check to see whether they are eligible for discounts on their out-of-pocket expenses.

Ferguson filed an enforcement action against Providence for deceiving patients into believing they had no choice but to pay their medical bill, and unlawfully shifting the burden onto patients to self-identify their eligibility for financial assistance. This created barriers to affordable care for thousands of the most vulnerable Washingtonians.

The legally enforceable agreement, filed today in King County Superior Court, resolves Ferguson’s lawsuit against all hospitals operated by Providence and its Washington affiliates, Swedish Medical Center and Kadlec Regional Medical Center.

Ferguson’s lawsuit asserted that between 2018 and 2023, Providence routinely disregarded its legal obligations. 

Instead, Providence trained staff to aggressively ask for payment from patients who were likely eligible for financial assistance, or simply billed them without determining if they qualified. 

In thousands of cases, Providence knowingly sent low-income patients — including Medicaid enrollees — to debt collectors. One of Providence’s own employees warned leadership that the health system’s practices were “sending the poor to bad debt.”

Providence health system operates hospitals across Washington. Many of its hospitals are either the largest or the only hospital in the area. Swedish First Hill and Providence Sacred Heart are among the largest hospitals in the state, with more than 600 beds. 

Together, these hospitals reported more than $18 billion in patient service revenues in 2020.

“Washingtonians concerned about the rising cost of health care should know that my team is fighting to enforce critical protections that improve affordability,” Ferguson said.

If patients have questions about whether they qualify for this resolution, they should contact Providence. The Attorney General’s Office does not have patient data. Providence can be reached at 855-229-6466.

The case against Providence is part of Ferguson’s Health Care Initiative. The resolution is the largest of four charity care cases handled by his office, resulting in more than $205 million in debt forgiveness and refunds for Washingtonians

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CityLearn classes online and in-person February 7, 2024

Friday, January 26, 2024

The City of Shoreline sponsors a series of classes which explore different aspects of city government. 

Classes are open to all residents with no registration required. They are held in person at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 18500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133 or online on Zoom.

CityLearn - Demystifying the City Budget

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 from 7 - 8:30pm
In-person in Council Chambers at Shoreline City Hall, or online
Zoom link here

By State law, cities in Washington are required to maintain a balanced budget. How does Shoreline make sure expenses do not exceed income? How much of your taxes, both property and sales, go into the City budget? Join Meng Liu, the City’s Budget and Tax Manager, for an informative and engaging presentation.

Contest: Learn About the City Budget and Win!
  • The current local sales tax rate is 10.3%.
  • If you shop in Shoreline and spend $10 on taxable items, $1.03 is collected in tax.
  • QUESTION: Do you know what percentage of that amount stays in Shoreline?
Bring your guess to CityLearn on February 7, either in-person or virtually. Participants with the closest estimates win a prize!

CityLearn is a monthly series of hybrid meetings open to everyone who lives and/or works in Shoreline. 

This is an opportunity to connect directly with City Councilmembers and staff.

For more information, contact Constance Perenyi


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Money for college from federal and state aid

Friday, January 19, 2024

Simpler, more generous 2024-25 financial aid applications now available—but process will be slower

In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid. 
  1. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens apply for both federal and state aid with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). 
  2. People who can't file the FAFSA—due to immigration status, defaulted federal loans, or other issues with federal aid—can apply for state aid with the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid).
This year, there are big changes to the FAFSA. The changes will increase eligibility, make more money available, and simplify the form. 

The WASFA is also improving, with fewer questions and a simpler form. 

Because of these improvements, financial aid applications opened later than usual. Applications usually open October 1, and will again in future years.

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), which administers the FAFSA, considers the month of January a “soft launch” of the new form, with the potential for ongoing technical updates and system downtime.

“USDOE has said that colleges will not receive the first round of applications until the end of the month,” says Becky Thompson, director of student financial assistance at the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). 
“Because of that, we’re telling folks to try to be patient. There’s no deadline for federal or state financial aid, so although it is typically good to apply as soon as you are ready, families don’t need to rush to apply during these first few weeks.”

It's also very likely that colleges will need more time to process the new forms and get financial aid award letters out the door—which may leave students with less time to assess their costs and make a final decision about their next steps. 

“Some colleges do have earlier priority deadlines for financial aid or enrollment commitments, but we’re hopeful that schools will be a little flexible since the timeline is compressed this year,” Thompson says.

Washingtonians have an extra incentive to consider college or training

For 2024-25, a family of four making up to $120,500 can qualify for financial aid in Washington. The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) is one of the most generous and flexible programs in the country. WA Grant supports low- and middle-income people of all ages pursuing certificates and degrees, as well as apprentices participating in approved registered apprenticeship programs.

WA Grant is available to eligible Washington residents, including undocumented students. Grant amounts vary based on income, family size and the school or program attended. And again, there’s no deadline to apply for WA Grant—it is available year-round and is guaranteed to anyone who meets the requirements.

Students who apply for financial aid are far more likely to attend college, and a FAFSA or WASFA is required to receive any state or federal financial aid, including WA Grant. 

But far too few students apply for financial aid in Washington. In recent years, only about half of all high school seniors have filed a FAFSA. Many financial aid experts hope the new simplified form will encourage more people to apply.

But there may be other ways to improve the process. Governor Inslee’s budget for the upcoming biennium proposes to let people qualify for WA Grant by demonstrating financial need through eligibility for food benefits like SNAP -- without completing a financial aid application. 

“Eliminating the burden of applying for financial aid could really reduce barriers to education for people who might otherwise consider it out of reach,” says Thompson.

Families can get help completing applications at WSAC’s virtual financial aid information and filing events. WSAC also offers Aim Higher Washington trainings and strategy sessions for school staff. These sessions cover content-based areas such as financial aid basics, financial aid application navigation and FAFSA simplification.

“We know the changes and delays this year can be frustrating,” Thompson says. “But there is so much to be gained from applying for financial aid. You’ll never know how much money you can get for college or training unless you apply.”

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State-backed GET Prepaid Tuition Program marks 25 years of helping Washington families

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Olympia—Washington’s popular Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program opens Wednesday, November 1, 2023 for a new enrollment period, providing families a fresh opportunity to start saving for future education and career training costs while their children are young. 

The 2023-2024 enrollment period runs through May 31, 2024, and provides a unique opportunity to prepay future tuition costs by locking in today’s rates. The unit purchase price for the new enrollment period is $120.16.

GET is a 529 prepaid tuition program, carrying a state-backed guarantee that units purchased today will always keep pace with in-state college tuition costs. 

“GET savers can literally buy tomorrow’s education at today’s price, whether they plan to use those funds five, 10, or even 18 years from now,” says Washington College Savings Plans director, Luke Minor.

New this year
, savers can open a new GET account with as little as $25, making it even easier to start saving. Savings in a GET account grow tax-free and are not subject to the ups and downs of financial markets, so families can save with confidence. 

“The current economic environment is an important reminder of the unique value that GET can provide a family looking for peace of mind as they prepare for their student’s educational future,” says Minor.

GET funds are flexible and can be used for a variety of expenses beyond tuition and fees, such as housing and food, books, computers, and other supplies. Students can use GET at nearly any public or private university, community college, or technical school worldwide, and even for apprenticeship programs and student loan repayments.

The flexibility of all 529 plans, including GET, is set to expand in 2024. 

Beginning in January, unused 529 funds can be rolled into a Roth IRA retirement savings account for the student. “The option to roll 529 funds into a Roth gives families confidence that no matter what pathway their student pursues, their savings can be put to good use,” said Minor.

GET opened in 1998, and for 25 years has helped families cover more than $1.4 billion in educational costs. More than 65,000 students have used their GET accounts to further their education in all 50 states and around the globe.


GET is one of two college savings options offered by Washington College Savings Plans (WA529). WA529’s other 529 plan, DreamAhead, is a nationally recognized investment-based 529 plan launched in 2018 to help Washingtonians save toward the full cost of college.

Washington residents who want to help a student save for future education costs can open a GET or DreamAhead account online at 529.wa.gov with no enrollment fee. 

The website also offers details, charts, planning tools, and answers to questions. The GET contact center is ready to help at 800-955-2318 or GETInfo@wsac.wa.gov

For questions about DreamAhead, the DreamAhead contact center can be reached at 844-529-5845.

About WA529

Washington College Savings Plans (WA529) offers two 529 college savings programs to Washingtonians: the Guaranteed Education Tuition Program (GET) and the DreamAhead College Investment Plan. 

Both programs offer individuals and families tax-advantaged options to save for education and career training. The Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings, commonly known as the WA529 Committee, provides oversight and sets program policies. 

The five-member committee consists of the executive director of the Washington Student Achievement Council, the State Treasurer, the director of the Office of Financial Management, and two citizen representatives. 

The Washington Student Achievement Council supports and helps administer the programs, based on the Committee’s direction.

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Presentation on Student Loan Repayment - online Tuesday September 5, 2023

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Let's Talk About 
Student Loan Repayment

Online program
Tuesday, September 5, 6:30-7:30pm

The student loan repayment pause is ending. Payments will be due starting in October. 

Learn the basics about repayment from a Hopelink Financial Coach. Ask questions in a small group setting.

Part of the KCLS Invest In Yourself series. In partnership with Hopelink and the King County Library System.

For teens and adults.

Please register.
You will be emailed a link no later than one hour before the program start time. If you do not see an email, check your Junk or Spam folder.

Please find additional financial workshops here


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16,300 borrowers in Washington will qualify for new student loan debt forgiveness

Thursday, July 20, 2023

The Biden administration on Friday announced plans to forgive about $39 billion of student loans for 804,000 borrowers as part of an effort to fix flaws with income-driven repayment programs. 

The Supreme Court last month nixed Biden's broader student debt relief program. 

On Tuesday, the Department of Education released figures showing how much the latest relief initiative adds up to in different states. 

For Washington, the numbers show that about 16,300 borrowers will qualify for the program and that their debt totals around $777 million. 

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MoneyTalk: 4 Tips for a Budget-Friendly Summer Vacation

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Stacey Black, BECU Lead Financial Educator
You don't need to break the bank for a summer vacation. Stacey Black, BECU Lead Financial Educator, shares tips for a budget-friendly summer vacation.

Research and Plan

Once you have chosen a potential destination, spend time looking into the costs of anything vacation-related. 

It’s not just the big-ticket items like hotels, meals and airfare that add up quickly, but also the smaller items like sunscreen and snacks. 

Are there side excursions to consider? Paid activities? Being realistic about your expectations will help ward off disappointment later. 

Also, consider looking into travel insurance in case plans fall through or unexpectedly change.

  • Other tip: since hotels can be pricey, why not consider staying with friends or family? Not only will you get to spend some quality time together, but you’ll also get the added benefit of local recommendations from someone with firsthand knowledge.
Dig for discounts: 

Explore travel websites, apps and other sources to see what vacation packages are available for your destination. Your financial institution may even offer great deals as well (for example, BECU offers member discounts with Passport Unlimited!). Or, consider fixing the majority of your own meals and limiting yourself to one restaurant meal per day to reduce food expenses. However, with any deal or discount, make sure you do your due diligence to ensure the offer and/or website is legitimate and isn’t actually a scam.

Prioritize your wish list: 

After conducting your research, Black recommends prioritizing the big-ticket items and identifying where you want to invest. For example, are you interested in travelling internationally or domestically? Would you rather stay in a 5-star hotel or explore shared lodging? Ask yourself these types of questions beforehand to ensure you stay within your budget.
  • Other tip: Staycations are another great option since you minimize the expenses that would have been spent on things like airfare and rental cars. Visit a hot new restaurant, explore a tourist attraction you loved as a kid or consider a midday sports event! There’s sure to be endless fun right in your own backyard! For example, visit your local farmer’s market, public library events or perhaps a neighborhood block party close by.

Use budgeting tools: 

Once you have a set budget for your vacation, it’s important to stick with it. “When I go on vacation, I always use the envelope system to save money,” says Black. “I will designate a certain amount of money into an envelope for each day of my trip so I know just how much I am going to spend daily.” Apps like BECU’s Money Manager also help you set timely alerts and make you aware of when you might be going over your budget while on vacation.


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MoneyTalk for Couples: Should you get your kid a credit card?

Monday, June 5, 2023

Stacey Black, BECU Lead Financial Educator
By Stacey Black
BECU Lead Financial Educator

When it comes to any relationship, aligning on money matters is important as it plays a pivotal role in every aspect of a couple’s life.

Although talking about finances may not be the most fun conversation to have, there’s no doubt it’s an important one that can have long-term impact.

To make defining your relationship with money easier as a couple, BECU Lead Financial Educator Stacey Black suggests that you continue the conversation with this question:

• Should you get your kid a credit card? 

Parents want to get credit cards for their children for different reasons. Maybe they want to help jumpstart their credit, or maybe they want to teach them about budgeting, saving and spending. 

Having a clear idea about why you want your child to have a credit card can help you make the best choices for your family.

Different types of credit and debit cards have varying features that can help you accomplish different goals. These come with different levels of responsibility for you and your child, ranging from all the responsibility on the adult to all the responsibility on the child. 

The easiest way to help your teen build credit is to add your under-18-year-old as an authorized user to your card account. Different card issuers set minimum age requirements for authorized users. 

An authorized card gives you a chance to teach your child valuable money lessons, including:
  • Good credit habits: budgeting and how to set spending limits
  • Bills: how to read a credit card bill
  • Monthly payments: seeing parent(s) make regular, timely payments
  • Credit usage: spending less than 30% of their credit line
  • Interest: why and how interest payments affect how much you owe
  • Although not technically a credit card, a debit card might be a good place to start with your younger teen before adding them to your credit card account as an authorized user. 
    • But use caution: debit card purchases aren’t protected like credit card purchases. 
    • A lost card could be a direct line to draining a checking account. 
    • A child or teen checking account often makes a debit card available for kids.
The Shoreline BECU branch is located in Gateway Plaza at N 185th and Aurora.



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