Newsbriefs

Tribes buy Pasco land

The Colville Tribes have bought 184 acres of land in Pasco and plan on developing it, the Tri-City Herald reported Friday. The land is east of U.S. 395 and north of the King City Truck Stop.

The tribes are considering a casino there, or perhaps a water park, but may initially build a convenience store and gas station.

A public signing of a cooperative agreement with the city was set for today, the paper reported.

I-976 being challenged

Multiple agencies including counties, cities, and transit authorities are challenging the recently passed Initiative 976 which, among other things, limits the ability of agencies to collect money for Transportation Benefit Districts.

According to a Nov. 13 press release from the Washington State Transit Association, “a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs across Washington claims I-976 is a ‘poorly drafted hodge-podge that violates multiple provisions of the Constitution,’ including the Single Subject Rule.”

The city of Electric City collected $17,000 in vehicle car tab fees, and the city of Elmer City collected $6,000 in car tab fees in 2018, something they won’t be allowed to do with the passage of I-976.

Billions of dollars are estimated to be lost from road repair projects and other transportation projects over the next few years across the state.