Tag Archives: 2023 Legislature

Legislature OKs Schoesler bill to help school districts address maintenance needs

A bill introduced by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that aims to help school districts in Washington address their building-maintenance needs is heading to the governor’s desk after being passed by the Legislature.

Senate Bill 5403 would allow school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up to 2% of a school district’s general fund each fiscal year.

“It’s good to see this bill finally get through the Legislature,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “It provides another way for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs. Sometimes it can be better for a school district to pay cash for a building repair or to set aside money for emergencies when they arise. Establishing this subfund, which is voluntary, is a way to help students learn in a healthy environment since school buildings would be in better condition.”

The Senate unanimously passed SB 5403 in March. After the House added a floor amendment and then approved the altered proposal on an 89-8 vote on April 12, the Senate today voted 48-0 to concur (or agree) with the House’s amended version. The House floor amendment would make the bill applicable only to school districts with fewer than 2,000 students.

During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, the Senate twice easily passed an earlier version of Schoesler’s bill. Senate Bill 5202 reached the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House voting calendar in both sessions before stalling.

Schoesler statement on Democrats’ new bill raising property taxes

State Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement after Senate Democrats introduced Senate Bill 5770, which would triple the annual growth rate of both state and local property taxes in Washington.

“The Senate Democrats’ bill to raise property taxes is just another example of their incurable addiction for more money. Their operating budget this year is the most expensive in state history and calls for record spending in virtually all areas. Their cap-and-tax program is costing drivers far more in fuel prices. The state Supreme Court just upheld their tax on capital-gains income, so you know they’ll eventually try to squeeze even more money out of people with that new tax. And there is a bill still alive that would make the ‘death tax’ more expensive for some. But all of that is not enough for them. Now, the Democrats want to pass an 11th-hour bill that would triple the growth rate of both state and local property taxes. Many people around our state are asking for tax relief and this is the Democrats’ response?! Unbelievable. Taxpayers have had enough!”

Schoesler, who serves the 9th Legislative District, is a longtime member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which deals with budget and tax issues.

Schoesler again offers bill to help school districts address maintenance needs

For the fifth straight year, 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler has a measure before the Legislature that aims to help school districts in Washington address their building-maintenance needs.

Senate Bill 5403 would allow school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up to 2 percent of a school district’s general fund each fiscal year.

“This bill would provide another path for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Sometimes it can be better for a school district to pay cash for a building repair or to set aside money for emergencies when they arise. Establishing this subfund, which is voluntary, is a way to help students learn in a healthy environment since school buildings would be in better condition.

“School administrators have recognized the value of this proposal, and I’m optimistic that my colleagues in the Senate and House will agree and vote to approve it this year.”

The bipartisan proposal has been assigned to the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee for consideration.

During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, the Senate twice easily passed an earlier version of Schoesler’s bill. Senate Bill 5202 reached the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House floor calendar in both sessions before stalling.

Schoesler introduced a similar measure during the 2019 and 2020 sessions, but it was not passed by the Senate.

Schoesler says state needs to do more to help stores combat retail crime

State government, including the Legislature, needs to do more to help combat the increase in retail crime in Washington, says 9th District state Sen. Mark Schoesler.

“While we’ve seen a spike in many areas of crime, retail theft and other retail crimes are especially a problem,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Retail crimes hurt not only stores and shops, but also consumers because these crimes force retailers to raise prices. The Legislature, the governor and the attorney general need to take action to greatly reduce retail crime in Washington.”

From 2019 to 2020, the value of goods stolen from Washington stores more than doubled. The Washington Retail Association estimates organized crime groups stole $2.7 billion from retailers in 2021.

“Retailers have been forced to endure an increase in crimes occurring on their property, including theft and fraud,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Organized retail-theft rings have become more brazen, violent and sophisticated in targeting stores. They are putting the safety of customers and store employees in danger. Also, they’re often involved in other crimes within communities, including human trafficking, money laundering and narcotics. These theft rings go after not only stores and shops in big cities but also those in small towns. It’s a growing problem in many parts of our state and the U.S.”

Schoesler, a member of the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee, said the Washington Retail Association recently released a resource guide on how to deal with retail crimes.

“Retail crimes, especially theft, have become so much worse in recent years that the Washington Retail Association just released a retail-crimes resource guide for its members,” added Schoesler. “To me, that says the state isn’t providing enough help for retailers and local and state law enforcement agencies don’t have enough officers to effectively combat retail theft.”

The Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee last week held a work session on retail crimes.

“The work session was a sign that organized retail crime is on the Legislature’s radar screen, but we need to make it a high priority when the legislative session starts in January,” said Schoesler.

A national report on the impact of organized retail crime showed that Washington retailers lost just over $2.7 billion worth of goods and products due to theft in 2021, and that the per capita amount of stolen items in the state is $376.61, which ranks Washington second in the nation, only behind Pennsylvania ($436.25).

According to the 2021 state crime report released by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, 23,323 shoplifting cases were reported last year.

According to respondents to a 2022 retail security survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, Loss Prevention Research Council and Appriss Retail, organized retail-crime incidents have increased by 26.5%. The same survey reported that more than 81% of participating retailers said organized retail-crime offenders are somewhat or much more violent compared with one year ago.

In 2021, Seattle ranked eighth among large cities affected by organized retail crime.