Legislative Priorities

Investing in education ensures a capable and competitive workforce for the future. Skagit County businesses depend on a well-educated workforce to remain innovative and meet industry demands. Current challenges include insufficient funding for early childhood education, limited career pathways for students, and the burden of unfunded mandates on local schools. 

Key Challenges: 

• Inadequate support for trade education and college pathways limits career opportunities. 

• Early childhood education remains underfunded, affecting workforce readiness in the long term. 

• Lack of state accountability in funding allocation leaves schools unable to meet mandates. 

Proposed Solutions: 

• Advocate for increased funding for trade schools and apprenticeships alongside traditional college programs. 

• Support state-level grants for early childhood education centers and workforce scholarships. 

• Require transparent reporting on the use of state education funds to ensure mandates are adequately supported. 

Businesses in Skagit County face hiring challenges due to the high cost of living, limited transportation options, and inadequate childcare services. Addressing these issues will support employee retention and attract new talent to the area. 

Key Challenges: 

• The lack of accessible and affordable housing drives talent out of the region. 

• Insufficient childcare availability limits workforce participation, especially for parents. 

• Public transportation inadequacies hinder commuting for employees. 

Proposed Solutions: 

• Incentivize public-private partnerships to develop affordable housing projects. 

• Expand state funding for childcare providers, including tax breaks for businesses offering on-site childcare. 

• Increase investments in regional transportation infrastructure to improve accessibility for commuters.  

Reliable infrastructure is critical for Skagit County’s business community to function efficiently and support growth. Aging infrastructure and increasing energy demands pose significant risks to economic stability. 

Key Challenges: 

• Electrical grid reliability is strained, threatening operational continuity for businesses, especially in the technology and manufacturing sectors. 

• Aging bridges and ferry systems hinder transportation and commerce. 

Proposed Solutions: 

• Accelerate funding for long-term maintenance plans, including modernizing the electrical grid and integrating renewable energy options. 

• Prioritize state investment in repairing and upgrading aging transportation infrastructure, including key bridges and ferries. 

Accessible healthcare, including mental health services, directly impacts the productivity and well-being of Skagit County’s workforce. Small businesses, in particular, struggle with the high costs and limited options for employee health insurance. 

Key Challenges: 

• Insufficient mental health resources increase public safety concerns and affect employee wellness. 

• A lack of competition among health insurance providers drives up premiums, limiting small business affordability. 

Proposed Solutions: 

• Advocate for state policies that attract additional health insurance providers to Washington, increasing competition and offering more affordable options for businesses. This could include easing regulatory barriers for out-of-state insurers or creating a statewide health insurance exchange tailored to small businesses. 

• Expand funding for mental health initiatives to ensure accessible services in rural and underserved areas. 

Foster a fair and economically vibrant business environment for the business community in Skagit County, including a sensible tax and regulatory structure at the local, state, and federal levels. 

Key Challenges:  

• Businesses in Skagit County face a complicated and sometimes inconsistent set of tax and regulatory requirements at the local, state, and federal levels, creating inefficiencies and additional costs. 

• Small businesses often struggle with compliance costs and regulatory burdens that are harder for them to absorb compared to larger businesses, threatening their survival and growth. 

Proposed Solutions: 

• Streamline tax codes and create a more consistent regulatory environment to reduce compliance costs and ensure businesses can focus on growth. 

• Push for policies that offer tax incentives, grants, and regulatory relief specifically for small businesses, helping them stay competitive and sustainable in a challenging environment.