OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington state Senate has passed a bill to charge electric car owners a $100 annual fee to compensate for the lack of gas taxes they pay.

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, the Camano Island Democrat who sponsored the bill, says while electric cars are good for the environment, they put the same wear and tear on the state's roads that gas vehicles do.

The same bill passed in the Senate last year but failed in the House.

Washington's gas tax stands at 37.5 cents per gallon, and is the state's largest source of transportation dollars.

The bill does not apply to hybrid vehicles or to those that don't exceed 35 mph.

The bill passed Saturday on a 31-16 vote and goes next to the House.
     
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

The last day for submitting a mail-in voter registration form or registering online for the Nov. 8 general election is Oct. 10.

Mail-in voter registration forms must be postmarked by Oct. 10 or before. Online registration applications must be submitted before midnight on Oct. 10. Visit the Elections Department website at http://clarkvotes.org and click the Online Voter Registration button to register online electronically.

All changes of address by currently registered voters must also be submitted by Monday, October 10 in order to apply to the Nov. 8 General Election, if done by mail, online or by telephone.

Citizens who are not currently registered to vote anywhere in the state of Washington have an additional time period, running through Oct. 31 to register by appearing in person at the County Elections Department, 1408 Franklin Street, Vancouver.

A sample ballot listing all candidate races and ballots measures appearing on the Nov. 8 general election is now available on the Clark County Elections Department website at: http://clarkvotes.org.

The City of Washougal strategic planning team will be holding two public meetings in August. A “Public Workshop” will be held at the Best Western Parkersville Inn & Suites on Aug. 25 from 6-8 p.m. at 121 S. 2nd Street. A “Coffee Conversation” session will be held at Papa’s Ice Cream on Aug. 29 from 7-10 a.m. 

Be sure to join us at 1700 Main Street to gain additional information on the strategic planning project the City has undertaken. This is a great opportunity to offer feedback to the strategic planning team on what your priorities are for the Washougal Community both today and the long term future.

Click the link below to the coffee conversation and open house opportunities that will be coming up in the near future.

• List of Public Workshops & Coffee Conversations