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Griffey bill on utility billing
transparency becomes law
By Gordon Weeks
Gordon@masoncounty. com
On March 25, Gov. Jay Inslee
signed into law a bill by state Rep. Dan
Griffey, R-Allyn, that requires more
billing transparency from municipal
utilities. ‘
House Bill 2889 will require mu-
nicipal utilities that charge a tax for
operating a water, sewer or wastewa-
ter, or stormwater utility, to disclose
the tax rate on the billing statement it
provides to customers.
The bill received 94 “yes” votes and
two “no” Votes in the state House Of
canamvrnus BRIEFS
Representatives. The bill is set to be-
come law June .10.
In keeping with social distancing ef-
forts to prevent the spread of the coro-
navirus, Griffey did not attend the bill
signing in Olym ia.
Griffey said t e inspiration for the
bill came from a constituent who had
to file multiple public record requests '
to find out the tax rate he was paying
for a utility.
“You shouldn’t have to,” he said in
an interview with the Shelton-Mason
County Journal.
“Open government is the best gov-
ernment,” he added.
Money available
to nonprofits '
hits by virus
Local nonprofit agencies that have
been hurt by the coronavirus have
been working overtime to provide
services to individuals and families
who have been drastically impacted,
can apply for money through an fund
formed by the Community Foundation
of South Puget Sound and the United
Way agencies in Mason, Thurston and
Lewis counties.
Nonprofit agencies can fill out
surveys for help at https://forms.gle/
quriSEsnv9y9MY19. The groups
are asked to state how the coronavi- ,
rus has affected them and the support
that is needed.
Fewer employees
and hours at
Treasurer’s Office
To protect staff and to continue
mandatory treasury operations, the
Mason County Treasurer’s Office is
operating with fewer employees and
reduced hours.
Office hours have been temporar-
ily reduced from 9 am. to 1 p.m.,
which will allow the staff to focus on
meeting mandatory obligations and
minimize contact, Mason County
Treasurer Lisa Frazier stated in a
news release.
Property tax payments can be
mailed to Mason County Trea-l
surer’s Office, PO. Box 429, Shelton
98584; you can pay online at https://
property.co.mason.wa.us/’I‘axsifter/
Search/Results.aspx; or you can call
360-427—9670, ext. 475. A fee comes
with paying by phone, and you can
pay by eCheck for less than the cost
of stamp. The payments can also'be
placed in the dropbox at 411 N. 5th
St. '
“At this time, there has been no
decision to extend the April 30th due
date for property tax payments,” Fra-
zier said. “I am working on the, ability
to extend payment options for those
impacted on an individual basis.”
Frazier added, “Be assured that I
am working diligently with state and
local officials to decide the best course
of action, causing the least amount of
financial impact to the state and local
entities —- many of whom are first
responders, such as public health,
sheriff, hospital districts and fire
departments — who depend on these
tax dollars to function. I understand
that not knowing is very stressful,
and I ask for your continued under—
standing, I will update as soon as I
know more.”
Frazier said that she expects mort-
gage companies collecting property
taxes as part of active escrow, ac-
counts with their customers will pay
on or before the April 80 due date.
Frazier said her office will offer the
ability to set up Autopay. The Trea-
surer’s Office will deduct taxes from
the dedicated back account on the
April 30 and Oct. 31 due dates.
COVlD-19 prompts
police, sheriff to
take precautions
City of Shelton Police officers and
Mason County Sheriffs Department
personnel are taking extra precau-
tions amid the threat of the coronavi-
rus.
“It has changed the way our teams \
contact people, most definitely,” said
Shelton Police Chief Darrin Moody.
“When someone calls dispatch, they
are asked a series of questions re-
garding their well-being or possible
contagious, nature. We are doing as
many reports as possible via phone.
We are also asking people to meet
us at the door rather than go inside
if possible. This is strictly for non-
emergency calls. We have personal
protective equipment for everyone at
the police department. We are asking
that anyone who has to come in to the
police department for interviews, out
'of their health concerns and ours, to
wear a mask. It is a tough time for
all.” f V
“Our deputies have been trained
for years to use universal precau-
tions,” said Mason County Sheriff
Casey Salisbury. “Just like other
organizations working directly with
the public, we have a heightened
V awareness due to the current circum-
stances.”
Both the sheriff and the police
chief say that Gov. Jay Inslee’s decree
for people to stay home unless they
are involved in an “essential service,”
going shopping and other essential
duties, has not affected their enforce-
ment.
“It appears most people are doing
their best to be compliant with the
current ‘shelter in place’ rules/re-
quest/mandate,” Salisbury said. “We
are not stopping cars just to verify
why people are traveling.”
As for the Shelton Police Depart-
ment, “We are not using it as an en-
forcement tool, but more of an educa-
tion moment,” Moody said.
I Compiled by reporter Gordoh Weeks
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