Meeting Public Comments

Cara Galloway

SSB 1181 would eliminate franchise fees, a critical funding source that cities use to provide essential services. These fees help fund police and fire departments, road maintenance, and other vital city services. Without this revenue, local governments will have fewer resources to support the people they serve.Cities are not imposing franchise fees for the fun of itthey are a necessary tool to help fund essential services that residents rely on every day. City leaders and staff also pay these fees, just like every other community member. These funds ensure that cities can maintain safe roads, keep emergency response teams staffed, and provide the infrastructure that makes our communities strong.If this bill passes, cities will be forced to make difficult choices. They may have to raise property taxes, cut essential services, or delay muchneeded infrastructure improvements. This means fewer officers and firefighters, roads that dont get repaired, and fewer resources to keep communities running effectively.Year after year, cities are losing tools to fund the services that make our communities safe, vibrant, and welcoming. Rather than taking away another funding source, we should be working on solutions to ensure our communities thrivenot finding new ways to defund city governments.Our communities need strong public services, safe roads, and wellfunded emergency responders. We need solutions that help our cities grow, not policies that force them to do more with less.