New Century Task Force Sets Benchmarks

Five benchmarks for measuring Spokane’s progress in economic development over the next five years were established in the New Century task force’s first round of meetings this week.

The 150-member group, which is attempting to create a broad-based community consensus on an economic development master plan for the Spokane and Kootenai county area, met in morning sessions Monday and Tuesday.

At Monday’s session, the group established its goals in terms of four of the five benchmarks. They are:

The average private-sector earnings per job should increase in consistent dollars at an annual rate exceeding the higher of the state or national averages by 10 percent.

Spokane’s private sector average earnings per jobs declined 0.26 percent annually from 1979 through 1993. Kootenai County’s decrease was 0.35 percent per year during that time.

Over that 14-year period, the state average increased 0.07 percent annually and the national average was up 0.2 percent annually.

Manufacturing jobs as a percent of total jobs should exceed the national average by 15 percent.

In 1993, the task force says, manufacturing jobs were 9.5 percent of Spokane’s total employment, 11.1 percent for Kootenai County, 12.2 percent for the state and 13.3 percent for the nation.

The percent of individuals and children below the poverty level should be the lower of the state and national poverty levels.

The task force says that in 1990, 17.3 percent of individuals and 21.7 percent of children in Spokane were below the poverty income level. The figures for Washington were 10.9 percent and 14 percent. For the nation, the figures were 13.1 percent and 17.9 percent.

K-12 students should be in the top quartile in graduate outcomes.

The graduate outcome index measures graduation rate and college board scores with the U.S. average being 100. Spokane School District 81’s outcome index was 107 in 1993, 101 in 1994 and 94 in 1995.

The fifth benchmark will relate to the housing affordability index. Specific goals related to housing affordability will be developed at a later date.

At earlier sessions, the task force formulated six specific emphasis areas for its planning process. They are education, quality of life, infrastructure, economic development, government and leadership. Tuesday’s session dealt with education and quality of life issues.

The task force’s education goal states, “The region will have comprehensive education opportunities delivered by our educational systems, families and communities, which are jointly accountable for globally competitive standards of learning for all.”

The task force’s strategy is that, “The K-12 school system will prepare graduates who are ready to pursue a four-year college degree, technical education or to enter the work force.”

A list of 22 items summarizes the task force’s plan for meeting the education goals. They include requiring each student to choose among college prep, technical prep or apprenticeship tracks; defining expectations for the school system and measuring the results; supporting a voucher system for freedom of choice; and developing a stable source of funding for K-12 education that does not require an election every two years.

The task force’s quality of life goal is, “The region will value an improving and sustainable quality of life were all people can flourish.”

The plan lists 27 strategy items for achieving the goal under headings of public safety; children and families; planned growth; affordable housing; quality of life/culture; and civic capital.

The items include:

Making our living environment safe from crime for all people; providing access to quality and affordable health care; providing the opportunity for full employment; encouraging and promoting the availability of housing across a broad range of affordability; maintaining strong cultural opportunities in visual arts, cultural arts and ethnic presentations; and operating within a framework of ethics and integrity.

, DataTimes MEMO: The next round of task force meetings will be March 11 and 12, from 7:15 to 9:30 a.m., at the Red Lion City Center. The draft of the New Century Plan will be printed in the April 21 edition of The Spokesman-Review, followed by a town hall meeting April 23.