City of Battle Ground receives GFOA award for budget presentation

The City of Battle Ground has received the Government Finance Officer Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2009.

The award reflects the commitment of the City of Battle Ground and its staff in meeting the highest principles of government budgeting. In order to receive the award, the City fulfilled nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation which assesses how well the City's budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communication device.

Mayor Michael Ciraulo presented the award to Finance and Information Services Director Catherine Huber Nickerson at the July 6th Council Meeting. "Ms. Huber Nickerson and the Finance Department staff are to be commended for having achieved this award;” the mayor said; “it is an example of the standard of excellence we strive for in the City of Battle Ground."

The 2009-2010 Biennial Budget can be viewed on the City's website at www.cityofbg.org or by contacting the Finance & Information Services Department at 360-342-5000.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra receives $40,000 Paul G. Allen Family Foundation grant

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has been named the recipient of a $40,000 Paul G. Allen Foundation grant to cover the period of its 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 concert seasons.

Under the leadership of music director and conductor Salvador Brotons, The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a 70-member professional orchestra presenting outstanding guest artists and varied programs September through May in a six-concert season. The VSO performs in-school concerts for more than one thousand students and sponsors.

The mission of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is to enhance the quality of life in Southwest Washington by providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances, and through music education in the schools, the concert halls, and throughout the community.

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation grants help fight the economic crisis in the Portland area, boost childhood reading proficiency on Montana tribal reservations, build a new emergency shelter and services facility for victims of family violence in rural Alaska and support an original musical at a Portland regional theater. “We are delighted to be a recipient of the commitment The Paul G. Allen Foundation continues to make to Pacific Northwest arts organizations,” said VSO President Scott Milam. “This grant helps not only increase the size of our audiences, but also the quality of music and musicians.”

Senator Mike Hewitt’s statement on Boeing’s South Carolina plant purchase

Today Senator Mike Hewitt ( R-Walla Walla ), state senate minority leader and member of Gov. Gregoire’s Council on Aerospace, addressed Boeing’s announcement that it will purchase a plant in South Carolina: “Today’s announcement is not good news for the people of Washington, and represents another in a long line of warning signals the Legislature should be heeding about our state’s dismal business climate.

“A recent report on Washington’s competitiveness showed that two issues were very important to the aerospace industry – labor-management relations, and cost-related measures such as unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, taxes and other business costs.

“Four of the last seven labor negotiations at Boeing have resulted in a strike. Work stoppages over the past several years have cost Boeing nine billion dollars in revenue and two billion dollars in lost profits – and Washington had the most aerospace work stoppage days of any state in which the company does business. If labor-management relations is the industry’s number one concern, and the report says that it is, why wouldn’t Boeing look to expand elsewhere given this dismal record?

“Amazingly, on the business cost front, the Legislature made little to no progress this session on making our state more competitive. This happened despite lawmakers seeing the report that pointed out several areas where Washington just isn’t competitive, such as having one of the most expensive workers’ compensation systems in the country. Rather than address the problem, the Legislature went in the opposite direction with a myriad of business-busting bills tossed out at employers of all sizes. We even had to fight to get the most basic ‘do no harm’ change to unemployment insurance. The message this sent employers, including Boeing, could not have been worse – or more poorly timed, given how important it is to keep every job is right now.

“It’s time for lawmakers and others in a position of influence to wake up. We must do all we can to keep Boeing and the other aerospace jobs we do have – jobs that account for thirty-six billion dollars in economic value and represents 15 percent of our state’s economy. “This is not a complicated issue. Washington must be competitive to keep jobs here – a fact that should concern every Washington worker in every industry. If we don’t make our state more attractive to employers, I fear we could see Boeing and other companies taking steps like the one we saw today – steps that could lead them right out of Washington.”

News briefs

The Committee to Elect Bill Turlay to the Vancouver City Council is holding a fundraiser at Joe's Place Farm, 701 NE 112th Avenue, from 1 to 5 p.m Sunday, July 12. <> Vancouver's three mayoral candidates will discuss their visions for the city during a meeting from 7:30 9 to a.m. Thursday, July 9, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

Events

City of Camas Farmer’s Market — Wednesdays 3 to 7 p.m., now through September. Between the library and City Hall
July 8 — Vancouver Pops Orchestra, Terry Lee, Attorney Noon Concerts
July 9 — 5 Guys Named Moe, Riverview Six to Sunset Concerts

Tuesday on the air

Seattle Mariners (at home) vs. Orioles—7:10 p.m., FSN, 710 ESPN
Election 2009: Clark County Democrats 2009 (6-5) —4:30 p.m. CVTV 23
Vancouver Planning Commission (6-9)—8:10 p.m. CVTV 21
Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners (6-23)—7 p.m. CVTV 21
Clark County Board of health (6-24)—4 p.m. CVTV 21
City Minutes—Columbia Crossing Update (6-28) —5:30 p.m. CVTV 21
Clark County Board of Commissioners Live—7 p.m. CVTV 23
 

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Headlines

Links to news of local & national significance