News Flash

At the city of Battle Ground, our focus is to provide sustainable municipal services and utilities to our growing population of residents, businesses, and consumers. We do so, not as an island, but in partnership and in compliance with state and federal laws and mandates.

Because decisions in Olympia can and have had a significant effect on how cities provide services, Battle Ground officials engage with state legislators throughout the year and monitor in-session legislative activities. The WA State legislative session begins next week; we have presented the city’s legislative priorities to our local legislators from the 17th and 18th districts and will continue to work with them to promote legislation and a city-state partnership that supports a safe and thriving city. After all, strong cities make a great state!
 
The city’s state legislative priorities address local, regional and state-wide issues affecting the City of Battle Ground:
 
Paradise Point Regional Water Supply System
The city’s water well production system is limited to its current 8 wells, including one emergency only back-up well. The wells’ production capacity has decreased to 80% and continues to decline. The city currently supplements the shortfall by purchasing water from Clark PUD through an intertie. To ensure water demands are met, the city must invest in regional resources. Clark Public Utilities’ Paradise Point Regional Water Supply System Project is a collaborative regional approach that will provide a sustainable source of potable water to meet emerging demands in Battle Ground and north Clark County. The city supports their funding request for the project.

We support the priorities of the Association of Washington Cities, an organization advocating for cities, large and small, in Olympia:

Maintain the city-state partnership for shared revenues to fund key services  
Over the last several years the state has reduced or cut funding intended for cities to provide key services such as public safety.
Revitalize key infrastructure programs
In recent years the state has diverted funds from programs that provided low interest loans to build and repair local infrastructure systems. As infrastructure ages, this funding mechanism becomes critically important to cities like Battle Ground.

Respect local city authority to respond to local needs  
City officials are elected by the local population; they must have the authority to solve local challenges. We ask the legislature to respect cities’ local authority for revenue, taxes, licensing and regulation. The 1% city property tax limitation does not account for inflation or population growth and creates a structural deficit.

Modernize the Public Records Act so cities can continue to provide open and transparent government services to our residents
The city of Battle Ground responds to over 500 public records requests annually. Antiquated laws, not accounting for modern technologies, must be updated to ensure prudent and sensible use of taxpayer dollars.

Also noted in the city’s state legislative priorities is support of well-designed economic development, growth and innovative financing efforts and initiatives that will benefit our local economy.

In addition to advocating for the city at the state level, city officials work with legislators representing Battle Ground at the federal level to pursue grant funding and to support policy initiatives that protect and sustain our local communities.

To view the City of Battle Ground’s State & Federal Legislative Agenda documents, select the link below.