Do you have questions for Seattle City Councilmembers? How does the Council want to handle the City’s 2011 $50 million budget deficit?  What are their thoughts on a solution for rebuilding the State Route 520 bridge? How do they feel the search for a new Seattle Police Chief search is going?  This episode of City Inside/Out: Council Edition features Seattle City Council Finance and Budget Chair Jean Godden, Public Safety Chair Tim Burgess and Energy and Technology Chair Bruce Harrell answering your questions.

Whatever your question is, if you want it answered on TV, you have to call 206-684-8821 or email contact@seattlechannel.org. Host C.R. Douglas will also raise the key issues facing Seattle. You can also submit your questions or watch past episodes by visiting the City Inside/Out: Council Edition website, http://www.seattlechannel.org/CouncilEdition/.

Don’t miss this opportunity to put your issues before the City’s lawmakers! Call or email right now! Then tune in Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. on SEATTLE CHANNEL, Cable 21, to get answers.

Chopp names one $150-million tax incentive in particular that he wants to see rescinded—the so-called “Dot Foods loophole.” In 1983, the state Legislature created a tax exemption for out-of-state food companies that use an agent to sell directly to wholesalers in Washington. In 2000, the state Department of Revenue began interpreting this law to mean that companies, including Dot Foods of Illinois, could not receive the tax exemption if they sold any products to wholesalers that ended up in retail stores. Dot Foods sued and the state Supreme Court ruled in the corporation’s favor. Chopp says that the decision opened up an unexpected $150-million hole in the state budget. He adds, “So we’ll close that loophole and make sure we do it in a way that complies with state law and the Supreme Court decision.”