Rep. Berg visits Snohomish council
SNOHOMISH — State Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, gave the City Council an update from the state Legislature.
One highlight Berg gave: Proposed House Bill 1095 would exempt businesses from having to owe state business and occupation (B&O) taxes for government relief grants they may have received after Feb. 29, 2020, specifically with COVID-19 grants in mind.
Berg said she would “flat-out oppose” a state income tax, and did not want to give a definite “yes” or “no” opinion to whether she would support the capital gains tax on the sale of stocks, bonds and other assets proposed by Gov. Jay Inslee. At the meeting, she could not immediately speak to changes that require employers to pay higher unemployment tax rates.
Legislators are approaching all laws and rules from an equity lens, Berg noted.
State Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, met with city staff recently, Mayor John Kartak noted.
Fire victim family seeks help
LAKE STEVENS — A family was evacuated from a two-alarm house fire at their home southwest of the lake of Lake Stevens the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 19, and a fundraiser has sprung up to assist. The house is considered a total loss. Four adults and three children were evacuated, according to Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue.
The fundraiser is called “Fire relief: Caspian’s family” on GoFundMe.com. As of late last week, it had raised $3,250.
Everett Cultural Arts grants
EVERETT — The city will spread $45,000 in cultural arts grants to multiple organizations and a couple of neighborhood associations. Grant winners include the Evergreen Community Orchestra for free orchestra performances, the Bayside Neighborhood to install a mural at Clark Park, the Historic Everett Theatre, the Delta Neighborhood to expand its kids art boxes program and the Snohomish County
Black Heritage Committee to support the annual Nubian Jam festival.
