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

Pramila Jayapal: Beta application for student loan debt is officially live

Thursday, October 20, 2022

From Congresswoman Pramilia Jayapal

BIG NEWS: The beta application for student loan debt cancelation is officially live and takes less than two minutes to submit! 



Please note: this is a beta application and may close and reopen throughout the week.

Recently, President Biden announced his administration will be canceling $20,000 of federal student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 of federal debt for other borrowers, reaching a total of 43 million borrowers.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal
This is a massive step in the right direction, and as the Chair of the Progressive Caucus, something I have personally been fighting for.

With the President’s action, approximately 20 million people will see their loans fully canceled, and an additional 23 million will see relief with a portion of their debt canceled. 

AND it will help to address the root cause of the issue by capping interest for current and future loans at 5 percent of income, half of the current rate. 

This means that those who still have a balance on their loan after this action will be able to lower their average annual payment by more than $1,000.

Be sure to get your application in today and subscribe to get email updates so I can keep you updated as we learn more about the timeline of when you'll see this money!



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Rep. Pramila Jayapal: you may receive credit for past student loan payments under waiver ending October 31, 2022

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Rep. Pramila Jayapal reports that because of temporary changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, you may be able to receive credit for past payments you made on your federal student loans. 

You have until October 31 to apply. Learn more at http://go.usa.gov/xSxMQ.

PSLF Waiver Offers Way to Get Closer to Loan Forgiveness

The “limited PSLF waiver” refers to the time-limited changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program rules that allow borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. This opportunity ends on Oct. 31, 2022.

Note: If you are new to PSLF and want some background about the program, visit our PSLF information page.

Already sure you'll qualify for PSLF? APPLY NOW. Not sure if you qualify? Check out Steps 1 and 2  to find out. See If You Qualify



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Applications for student financial aid for the 2023-24 school year now open

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Olympia—October 1, 2022, marked the first day that people could apply for financial aid for the 2023-24 school year. 

Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward college and career training. Completing a financial aid application opens up more options for the future. 

This year, a family of four making up to $107,000 can qualify for financial aid in Washington.

"You won't know if you don't try." 




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LFP City Council Budget and Finance Committee Special Meeting to review proposed 2023-2021 biennial budget

Sunday, September 25, 2022

LFP City Council Budget and Finance Committee will hold a Special Meeting (hybrid meeting) on Monday, September 26, 2022 from 6:00 - 8:00pm, at City Hall and via Zoom.

City Hall is located at 17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

The committee will deliberate and make recommendations on the Proposed 2023-2024 Biennial Budget.

Public comment can be made in person and submitted online.


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LFP City Council Budget and Finance Committee meeting Monday to hear department presentations and offer opportunities for public comments

Monday, September 12, 2022

The LFP City Council Budget and Finance Committee will meet Monday, September 12, 2022 at 6pm to hear presentations from departments about budget requests.

The committee is providing opportunities for public comment by joining the meeting webinar (via computer or phone) or in person to provide oral public comment.

Agenda and comment information here

2022-2024 Biennial Budget Department Presentations:
  • Police Department
  • Municipal Court
  • Municipal Services
  • Executive/City Council
  • Community Partner Funding
The second session will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 6pm.

Departmental presentations at this session will include:
  • Public Works
  • Building
  • Planning
  • Finance/Information Technology



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Lake Forest Park: Mayor's Proposed 2023-2024 Biennial Budget available online and in hard copy at City Hall

Saturday, September 10, 2022

The Mayor's proposed 2023-2024 Biennial Budget for the City of Lake Forest Park is now available. 

You can download it from here: https://www.cityoflfp.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10555/Mayors-Proposed-2023-2024-Biennial-Budget-PDF or find it on the city's budget page here: https://www.cityoflfp.gov/138/Budget

You can also stop by City Hall in Town Center intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE to pick up a copy.



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LFP Council Corner – Budget and Speed Limits

Thursday, September 1, 2022

From LFP Deputy Mayor Tom French

It is hard to believe that our seemingly very short summer is coming to a close. As is tradition, the Council took the last couple of weeks of August off before diving back into our very full fall schedule of meetings.

The Council has held three Council Committee of the Whole meetings over the past few months, with the primary topic being safety on our roadways and state routes. 

This is a prime focus for all of us as there is an urgency to find ways to make our community safer for walkers, bicyclists, and other multi-modal transportation users.

As policy makers, we are aligned in the path forward to making our community safer for everyone. We will be taking action on adopting a Lake Forest Park-appropriate methodology for setting local speed limits that is mandated under state statutes. The method under consideration is NACTO’s (National Association of City Traffic Officials) very comprehensive and wholistic “City Limits” document.

City Limits prescribes three categories for setting speed limits:
  1. Default Speed limits: Set default speed limits on many streets at once.
  2. Slow Zones: Designate slow zones in sensitive areas, such as schools, parks, and churches.
  3. Corridor Speed Limits: Set corridor speed limits on high priority major streets using a Safe Speed Study.
Reduce speed limits on neighborhood streets
The Council is also considering moving forward with a reduction on many neighborhood streets at once. This method has shown to dramatically reduce speeding and increase safety simply through this action alone and without increases in enforcement. Seattle; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and several other cities have shown great success in reducing the number of serious accidents by a whole-scale reduction in neighborhood speed limits.

Lower speed limits on state routes in LFP
It is also our intent to lower the speed limits on our two state routes using safe speed studies as prescribed by City Limits. Preliminary conversations with the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit have been positive and support our approach. This process is more involved and will take a year or more to complete, but in the end our community will be much safer for the effort.

Budget season
A quick reminder that our 2023-2024 biennial budget season is underway. Check our website for a detailed calendar of Budget and Finance Committee meetings, where the public is always welcome. With the excellent guidance of the Administration and city staff, our community has weathered the pandemic well, despite very uncertain times and challenging economic stresses. However, this budget will be a lean one, with very little room for additional programs or policies and the community will have to make some tough choices and compromises.



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More Washingtonians now eligible for free or discounted hospital care

Swedish Edmonds Hospital
Millions of Washingtonians are now eligible for free or reduced health care thanks to an update to Washington state law that took effect July 1, 2022. 

Washingtonians within 300% of the federal poverty level now qualify for charity care for their full out-of-pocket hospital bill. 

Those within 400% of the federal poverty level are eligible for reduced care.

This care has to be considered “medically necessary.” In Washington approximately 4 million people may fall into these groups.

"This is a large help for low-income consumers who are facing large hospital bills. Changing this law allows for more people to get help with the impact of these large medical costs," said Gov. Jay Inslee.

For more information about the new charity care law and how you can apply for coverage, visit the state attorney general’s website or the Washington State Hospital Association’s website.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the Providence Hospital chain, including five Swedish Hospitals, for failing to notify patients that they could be eligible for discounted care under state law. He recently expanded the suit to include the two collection agencies employed by Providence.

Washington’s charity care law protects Washingtonians from out-of-pocket hospital costs. The protections apply to both insured and uninsured patients. It requires all hospitals — for-profit and nonprofit, public and private — to forgive some or all of the out-of-pocket cost of essential health care for patients who qualify.
 
If you paid for medical services or are in collections for a medical bill from a Providence or Swedish hospital or Kadlec Regional Medical Center, and believe you may be eligible for charity care, contact Attorney General’s Office Investigator Bau Vang at 206-516-2989 or by email at bau.vang@atg.wa.gov



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Gov. Inslee: Student Debt Relief Plan

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Graphic courtesy of @POTUS on Twitter
On Tuesday, President Biden announced details for the Student Debt Relief Plan, forgiving up to $20,000 in debt for Pell Grant recipients with loans held by the Department of Education, and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation for non-Pell Grant recipients. 

This forgiveness could impact 40 million people across the nation and half a million Washingtonians, providing relief for low and middle-class borrowers.

The administration also granted an extension of the pause on federal student loan repayment through December 31, 2022. Those potentially eligible for the PSLF waiver can visit this website by October 31 to see if they qualify.

"My student loan plan makes sure working people have a shot at a college degree without the fear of being saddled with insurmountable debt," said Biden.

There are three parts to the debt relief plan:
  1. Final extension of the student loan repayment pause to Dec. 31.
  2. Targeted debt relief to low- and middle-income families.
  3. A student loan system that is more manageable for current and future borrowers.
"This is providing relief to hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians. Thank you to the Biden administration for delivering on your promise and helping to fuel the economy," said Gov. Jay Inslee.


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Shoreline City Council adopts resolution placing levy lid lift on November ballot

Saturday, July 23, 2022

On July 18, 2022 the Shoreline City Council adopted Resolution No. 492, which places a levy lid lift on the November 8 general election ballot. 

If approved by Shoreline voters, Proposition 1 would maintain current levels of police and community safety services, including neighborhood safety patrols; traffic enforcement in school zones and neighborhoods; and community crime prevention programs. 

It would also enhance the RADAR Program by adding mental health professional teams to provide 24/7 response with police to community members in behavioral health crisis. 

Proposition 1 would also preserve safe, well-maintained, and accessible parks and trails; playgrounds and play equipment that meet safety standards; playfields and restrooms; and preserve recreation programs for youth, adults, families, and seniors. 

Proposition 1 would continue funding for community services for seniors, youth, and individuals and families in need, including homelessness response services. The levy would also sustain the City’s code enforcement and customer response programs.

In 2010 and 2016, Shoreline voters approved six-year maintenance and operations levies to help fund basic public safety, parks and recreation, and community services. The 2016 levy will expire on December 31 of this year. 

Over the past six years (2017-2022) the consumer price index (CPI), which measures inflation, has increased more than 1% in most years. Some major city expenses, such as our contract for police services and the cost of road maintenance supplies, such as asphalt, often increase at rates even higher than CPI. 

Because the City is required to pass a balanced budget, we must absorb any cost increases, which typically means providing lower levels of service. This year’s CPI for the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue region is 10.14%
.
The proposed maintenance and operations levy would restore the expiring 2016 levy. The City’s 10-Year Forecast projects that without restoring these funds, revenues will not be adequate to support the costs of current service levels. 

If Proposition 1 is approved, a homeowner with a median home value (in 2023 estimated to be $731,300) would pay an additional average of $30 per month over the six-year levy to maintain the above services.

Senior citizens or persons with disabilities may qualify for tax exemptions or tax deferrals. Contact the King County Assessor’s Office at 206-296-3920 or kingcounty.gov/assessor for information.

For more information on Shoreline Proposition 1 visit shorelinewa.gov/prop1.



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New law offers free or discounted hospital care to 4 million Washingtonians

Monday, July 4, 2022

Attorney General Bob Ferguson
Starting July 1, 2022, 4 million Washingtonians will qualify for free or discounted care at hospitals across Washington as a result of legislation requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

The legislation requires large hospital systems to provide more financial assistance. Beginning July 1, approximately half of all Washingtonians will be eligible for free or reduced-cost care at hospitals that represent approximately 80 percent of the licensed beds in the state.

Ferguson worked with prime sponsor Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, and Reps. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, and Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, on HB 1616 to strengthen Washington’s charity care law. 46th LD representatives Valdez and Pollit signed on as cosponsors, as did 32nd LD rep Lauren Davis.

Ferguson’s Attorney General request legislation expands charity care eligibility to more than 1 million Washingtonians, and guarantees free hospital care to an additional million Washingtonians who are currently eligible for discounted care.

“This is a landmark achievement for affordable health care,” Ferguson said. “Too many Washingtonians are just one hospital bill away from financial crisis. Our new law moves us away from a system where a single mom working two minimum wage jobs didn’t qualify for any help with her hospital bills, to something that offers help to about half the people in Washington. 
"It’s the right thing to do. Make sure you know what kind of assistance you qualify for, and if you aren’t getting it, contact my office.”

Ferguson’s and Simmons’ legislation establishes two tiers of financial assistance — one for large health care systems and another for smaller, independent hospitals. The new law gives Washington the strongest protections in the country for out-of-pocket hospital costs.

Nationwide, about two-thirds of individuals who file for bankruptcy cite medical issues as a key contributor, and more than half of collection items on credit reports are for medical debts.

Access to care is also an equity issue, as communities of color are disproportionately underinsured, and especially vulnerable to catastrophic and unexpected medical expenses.

More information here



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Shoreline school staff working to develop a balanced budget are surveying parents

Monday, June 6, 2022

Shoreline School District staff are currently working to develop a balanced budget for the 2022-23 school year. 

This process includes a review and consideration of factors that impact future revenue from the state to the school district. 

The 2022-23 District Budget Development page provides:an informational video with a general overview of the budget process and timeline links to a survey to provide feedback (available in English, Spanish, Tigrinya, Amharic, Vietnamese, and Chinese)

The information gathered from the survey will be helpful as we continue the process of developing the 2022-23 district budget. It will also be helpful to us as we plan for the next few years. 

Submissions received by noon on June 9, 2022 will help inform the June 21 update to the School Board, but the survey will remain open after that date.



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Annual enrollment for GET closes May 31, 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Washington families still have time to start saving for future education costs with Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET), the state’s 529 prepaid tuition program. The 2021-2022 annual enrollment period closes on May 31, 2022.

For the first time ever, the purchase price of a GET unit exactly matches the payout value, meaning savers in Washington have a historic opportunity to buy tomorrow’s tuition at today’s price. Once a GET account is open, the last day to add units to an existing account at the current price of $114.01 is June 25, 2022.

The State of Washington guarantees that a family’s GET savings will keep pace with in-state tuition and state-mandated fees. While GET account values keep pace with in-state tuition, beneficiaries have the freedom to follow their ambitions wherever they choose, as GET can be used at nearly any public or private university, community college, or technical school in the country. GET units can even be used to pay the costs associated with apprenticeships and for student loan repayments.

“Whether your student’s future plans include college, trade school, or another form of career-readiness training, GET is a great way to ensure those dreams become reality,” said Luke Minor, director of Washington College Savings Plans.

The Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program opened in 1998, and since then, thousands of Washington families have saved billions of dollars toward their students’ future higher education expenses. To date, GET has distributed more than $1.3 billion to 60,000+ students who have used their GET accounts to attend higher education in all 50 U.S. states and at least 15 countries worldwide.

The GET program is one of two college savings options offered by Washington College Savings Plans (WA529). The DreamAhead College Investment Plan was launched in 2018 to create additional choice and flexibility for families as they plan for college costs. WA529’s website (wastate529.wa.gov) offers details, charts, planning tools and answers to questions that families may have about either program. Accounts can be opened online, and the GET Contact Center is ready to help at (800) 955-2318 or GETInfo@wsac.wa.gov.



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BECU offers Top Tips for Financial Literacy Month

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Stacey Black, BECU Lead Financial Educator
With Financial Literacy Month in April, now is a great time for people to learn about ways to enhance their financial health. 

As Washington’s largest credit union, BECU is committed to improving the financial well-being of its members and communities in various ways, from offering free financial education articles and webinars, to self-paced courses and member-exclusive resources like our Financial Health Check program.

No matter where you are at in your financial journey, tips are readily available to help you act on saving, reducing debt, budgeting; you name it. 

Below are a few tips from BECU’s Lead Financial Educator Stacey Black on building or maintaining a good credit score, another crucial piece to the financial health puzzle.

How to Build or Maintain a Good Credit Score:
  • Use your credit card responsibly. If possible, try to avoid racking up additional credit card debt or opening new cards to pay for necessities. Turning to credit cards may seem like the simplest solution, especially during challenging times, but in the long-term you could end up paying thousands of dollars in interest – and your credit score will also take a hit.
  • Explore your credit options. If you’ve exhausted all other options and do need to open a new credit card, look for low interest rates, low fees and favorable terms. Also, make sure to consider the new monthly payment and its impact on your current and future budget.
  • Consider a secured credit card. A secured credit card provides the opportunity to start building credit responsibly and offers all the benefits of a credit card but usually with lower spending limits. The difference is that a secured card requires you to make a security deposit, which is used as collateral in case of default on the loan, and can help people feel more invested to make payments.
  • Make payments on time. When your payment is more than 30 days late, it can have a significant impact on your credit score – in fact, late payments can remain on your credit report for seven years. Signing up for automatic payments eliminates the need to “remember” to pay the bill every month and you can easily change the amount as needed.
  • Choose the right financial institution. When choosing a financial institution, it’s important to consider every service you may need out of an institution (now and in the future) to help discover the right one for you. For example, factor in potential fees, interest rates, convenience and online banking capabilities.


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Financial Foundations: Reality Fair for teens and young adults - online Wednesday

Monday, February 21, 2022

Financial Foundations: Reality Fair

Register here https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/61f025da600a0f410027c115

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 6-7:30pm
Presented by BECU Financial Educator.

Gain real-world financial planning, saving and budgeting skills through a fun, interactive simulation. 

Learn to manage a budget while making spending decisions about transportation, housing, entertainment and more.

Register before 5pm on February 23. You will be sent the Zoom link.



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Shoreline City Manager to appoint Financial Sustainability Advisory Committee

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Shoreline City Hall photo by Steven H. Robinson
The Shoreline City Manager is planning to appoint 12 to 15 community members to serve on the Financial Sustainability Advisory Committee-2022 (FSAC-22). 

The goal of FSAC-22 will be to look at whether the City should seek replacement of the 2016 levy lid lift on the November 2022 General Election ballot. 

Using FSAC-22’s input, the City Manager will develop a recommendation to be reviewed by the City Council with potential action on next steps during the summer of 2022.

FSAC-22 will meet five to six times using Zoom on Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00pm on March 10 and 24, April 7 and 21, and May 5 and 19. If you are interested in serving on FSAC-22, please visit shorelinewa.gov/10YFSP, click the Financial Sustainability Advisory Committee-22 link on the left, and fill out the online application by 5:00pm February 14, 2022.

The City Manager will seek to appoint people who represent a broad range of Shoreline residents and issues, including community organizations, immigrant and refugee communities, communities of color, neighborhoods, Shoreline businesses, and human services organizations.

City Council accepted the City’s 10 Year Financial Sustainability Plan in 2014. It included a strategy for engaging Shoreline residents and stakeholders in a discussion every six years regarding the possibility of replacing the expiring property tax levy lid lift, which allowed the City to increase the property tax by inflation rather than the 1% imposed by state law. 

In 2016, the City Manager formed an advisory committee for input prior to seeking Council approval to place a levy lid lift on the ballot. After evaluating the 10-year Financial Sustainability Plan, the committee recommended that the City seek replacement of the 2010 levy lid lift in November 2016.

The Council placed a measure on that ballot and Shoreline voters overwhelmingly approved the measure. That six-year levy lid lift expires in 2022.

For more information, visit shorelinewa.gov/10YFSP.


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King county council passes $672 million supplemental budget, funding climate projects, gun violence reduction and key service restorations

Wednesday, November 24, 2021


The King County Council on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 approved a $672 million supplemental budget. The approved 2021 mid-biennial supplemental adds funding for climate equity projects, gun violence reduction, bus service restorations, tiny home villages, waterfront shuttle service, bike helmet awareness, economic recovery, and much more.

Councilmembers voted unanimously to approve the budget.
“Over the past two years, we’ve been able to make important and equitable investments in public health, transit, housing, and public safety, and this mid-biennial budget continues these across the County,” said Councilmember and Budget Chair Jeanne Kohl-Welles.

“These new investments will be transformative for folks whose jobs are being restored, individuals who will be able to obtain shelter and permanent supportive housing, those living with mental illness and drug dependency or in need of opioid addiction services, and for families utilizing the Best Starts for Kids programs.
"And new climate equity projects will support those disproportionately impacted by climate change.”

With more promising revenue forecasts since adoption of the 2021-22 biennial budget last November, the Council was able to restore a number of cuts that were made at the time, including in the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency program, in public transit and more.

Councilmember and Vice Chair of Budget and Fiscal Management Committee Rod Dembowski:
“I’m very pleased with the significant investment this budget makes in speeding up our bus electrification initiative, as well as an initial climate bond for important capital projects to address climate change and its impacts. 
"We must do a lot more, and do it more quickly to address climate change and I hope we can send to the voters a major climate bond proposal in 2022 that builds on this initial work.”
The following are some key investments in the adopted budget:
  • $4 million to restore reductions and eliminate furloughs for 2022 which were included in last November’s 2021-2022 adopted biennial budget to meet target reductions due to the recession;
  • $20 million of Climate Equity Capital bond funds for projects identified with community partners to support frontline communities disproportionately affected by climate change and increase opportunities for those communities to benefit from emissions reductions and energy efficiency;
  • $3.1 million for expanded regional gun violence and peacekeeping efforts, including additional community outreach, violence interrupters, and life coaches;
  • $4.3 million for the new adult felony Community Diversion Program, including resources for a loss recovery fund that provides financial supports for harmed parties; assessment and referral staff; and community-based service contracts;
  • $4 million in underspent funds for hiring and retention bonuses for commissioned King County Sheriff’s officers to help fill open positions in furthering public safety;
  • $17.4 million in Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) to restore program cuts and some program expansion;
  • $126 million for Best Starts for Kids (BSK) funds, consistent with the passage of the renewed BSK levy by voters in August 2020 and the implementation plan;
  • $18.6 million for bus service restorations including 241,000 more transit service hours and flexible services increases; and
  • $80.5 million for accelerating the planned appropriation for building electric bus charging capacity for 105 battery electric buses at Metro's Interim Base, an Access electric vehicle pilot, and base electrification planning.
Full details of the budget can be found online here.



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City of Lake Forest Park receives another Distinguished Budget Presentation Award in 2021

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to the City of Lake Forest Park for its 2021-2022 biennial budget.

The City also received a Distinguished Budget Award for two previous biennial budgets in 2017 and 2019.

The budget awards represent a significant achievement. 

They reflect the commitment of the City to meeting the highest principles in governmental budgeting.

In order to receive the budget award, the City must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device.

The three budget awards, along with 2016’s Stewardship Award from the Washington State Auditor’s Office, highlights the City’s continuous commitment to be on the leading edge of financial transparency.



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Minimum wage goes up on January 1, 2022

Sunday, October 24, 2021

The state’s minimum wage will rise from $13.69 to $14.40 per hour on January 1, 2022. 

The state minimum wage applies to workers age 16 and older, and cities are able to set minimum wages higher than the state’s.The state’s Department of Labor and Industries outlines all of the requirements on its website.

State law mandates L/I calculate the minimum wage for the coming year based on the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). 

L/I compares the CPI-W from August of the previous year to the index for August of the current year to make the calculation.

The result is the state’s current minimum wage of $13.69 will go up 5.83 percent next year. BLS attributed the increase in the price index to more expensive gas, housing, household furnishings, and food.

The state minimum wage applies to workers age 16 and older. Under state law, employers can pay 85 percent of the minimum wage to workers ages 14-15. For 2022, the wage for that younger group will be $12.32 per hour.

Cities are able to set minimum wages higher than the state’s, and both Seattle and Sea Tac have higher wages.

View website for more information



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Census Bureau: Economic hardship declined in households with children as Child Tax Credit payments arrived

Friday, August 13, 2021

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a drop in the number of households with children that reported food insufficiency and trouble paying household expenses may be linked to the child tax credit checks issued last month, according to new Household Pulse Survey (HPS) results.

The Internal Revenue Service last month (July 15, 2021) began issuing a monthly Advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) to families with children. 

About 35 million eligible families received the first monthly payment of up to $300 for each child age 5 and under and up to $250 for each child ages 6 to 17. Payments will continue monthly through December.

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The U.S. Census Bureau’s experimental HPS collected survey responses just before and just after the arrival of the first checks.

The survey shows introduction of the CTC coincided with a drop in food insufficiency in households with children. It also showed that in those households, there was a drop in difficulty paying weekly expenses.

Continue reading to learn more about:
  • Food insufficiency dropped quickly after checks arrived
  • Financial hardship of families with children also dropped
  • Families spent CTC on their children
  • About HPS


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