Thank you to Sen. Ann Rivers for her leadership and courage in working to fund high priority road projects to Clark County. I know this was a carefully considered vote and I applaud you for it.
I was able to attend your town hall meeting at Battle Ground City Hall, and was impressed with your open and frank conversations about how the funding works and how it will affect us locally here. I believe it is important for everyone who has a concern regarding transportation projects to get involved.
As a business person, I really don’t like taxes, but I also understand that if we don’t invest in infrastructure, we will be saddled with deteriorating roads and negative growth. A statewide transportation package was long overdue and was likely to pass this year. I appreciate those who worked hard to ensure that southwest Washington got as much as we could in the deal.
In years past, Clark County has previously received a significantly higher share of project dollars than we received this time. The messages from our delegators were inconsistent, and at times damaging to our prospects of securing funding for projects. The way I understand it works is, if all the legislators in an area vote “no,” than that district receives no funding at all from the package
Here in north Clark County, many of our local businesses rely on infrastructure work throughout the region and state. Even projects in other areas will benefit our local businesses, with more jobs and quicker commutes, so people can be to work and home quicker. This will allow them to spend time doing productive things, not sitting in traffic.
Now many critical projects will be able to move forward, and that will set the stage for positive growth in Clark County.
The package is far from perfect. There are important projects for Clark County not on the list. While we are not advocates of any tax increases, when they go to something as vital as transportation, I believe it is necessary to find some kind of common ground.
True leadership involves balancing criticism with a sense of knowing what is in your control and where you need to do the best you can to get the most out of a deal. Thank you Senator Rivers for that kind of leadership.
Kevin Tapani
Battle Ground
