On Monday morning, the State House Democratic Caucus released their proposed Biennial Budget for 2017-2019. It raises revenue to fully fund K-12 public education, and doesn’t make big cuts to human service programs. Here are a few highlights:
- Revenue sources in this budget come from closing the capital gains loophole and increasing the business and occupation tax.
- Aged, Blind, & Disabled (ABD) cash grant increased from $197 to $227/month, a $30/month increase.
- Housing & Essential Needs (HEN) program is preserved and a small HEN transportation stipend is created at $10/month.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant for a family of four is increased from $613 to $662/month, a $49/month increase. Asset limit level is increased for value of a vehicle.
- This budget restores $500k to the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s regional markets (SFDM/F2S).
- Provides the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction with $26M to help targeted high poverty schools expand access to school breakfast.
Below is a list of important community events for the next half a year:
- Saturday, 3/25 from 9:00am-12:00pm– ACLF Community Breakfast
- Friday, 3/31from 11:30am-1:30pm – 9th Annual Tomodachi Luncheon 2017 hosted by the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of WA
- Saturday, 4/1from 5:30pm – Wing Luke Museum Gala
- Thursday, 4/13from 6:00pm-9:00pm – 21 Progress Gala Imagine Us 2017
- Saturday, 4/15from 2:00pm-6:00pm – #BlackLivesMatter March on Seattle
- Saturday, 4/15–Sunday, 4/16– Children’s Friendship Festival
- Monday, 4/17– OIRA Ready to Work North office opening
- Friday, 4/21 at 6:00pm– OneAmerica’s Annual Celebration
- Friday, 4/21from 6:00pm-9:00pm – 21 Progress Imagine Us Gala
- Friday, 4/21–Saturday 4/23– Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival
- Saturday, 4/22 at 10:00am– March for Science
- Tuesday, 4/25from 5:15pm-7:30pm – Rainier Valley Community Development Fund 2017 Annual Meeting
- Saturday, 4/29from 5:30pm-9:00pm – API Chaya Annual Gala
- Saturday, 5/6from 5:30pm-10:00pm – 2017 ICHS Bloom Gala
- Sunday, 5/7from 12:00pm-5:00pm – Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration
- Saturday, 5/13from 5:30pm-10:00pm – Celebrating the Fil Am Vets of WWII
- Saturday, 5/20from 12:00pm-6:00pm – A Glimpse of China – Chinese Culture and Arts Festival
- Saturday, 5/20 at 5:30pm– Interim CDA Gala
- Wednesday, 5/24 at 1:00pm– Greenwood Senior Center Presentation about OIRA
- Saturday, 6/3to Sunday, 6/4 – Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival
- Saturday, 6/24– ACRS Walk for Rice
- Saturday, 10/1– ACRS Gala: A Culinary Journey
- Saturday, 10/21– NW Asian Weekly 35th Anniversary Dinner