In Olympia, legislators are patting themselves on the back after closing a $9 billion budget gap. But it’s likely that they have only deferred addressing some of the fundamental structural problems with the state’s finances for another 2 years.

Legislators also took a victory lap after “solving” the viaduct problem by creating a mechanism by which Seattle taxpayers would have to pay for cost overruns on what would be a state project—after Seattle voted down the tunnel option. But that’s a different post.

Two big ideas that didn’t make it out of the regular session had to do with the always unpopular and hard to understand subjects of debt and taxes. The state will eventually have to figure out how to make its tax system fairer and less regressive. An income tax of some kind could be part of that, but that ideal didn’t get far this year.

The other really interesting concept was offered by Rep. Hans Dunshee. His proposal would have authorized the state to borrow $3 billion to retrofit public schools. The bill was missing a lot of critical details, but underlying was a great concept that I called Green Increment Financing.

Like Tax Increment Financing, Dunshee’s bill would have allowed the state to make upgrades and improvements to infrastructure that would pay for the financing of the debt. In the case of Green Increment Financing, the money to pay back the debt would come from accumulated savings as previously inefficient buildings began to realize energy savings. The retrofitting would create new jobs, and reductions in energy use would also reduce green house gas emissions.

Like Tax Increment Financing, the hurdle with this kind of idea is two-fold. First, and probably most difficult, is the terminology which includes words like “tax,” “bonds,” “financing,” “public indebtedness,” and “increment.” Even if legislators understand this concept, debt and taxes are political dynamite.

The second problem has to do with math and forecasting. Will energy improvements actually save enough to pay back the bonds? Savings can be estimated and this kind of financing on projected savings is done locally already. So these numbers can be figured out. But getting the numbers will take time

Hopefully, Green Increment Financing will gain ground between now and the next legislative session along with a more fundamental look at how we generate revenue for public benefits.

There’s a yellowed and fading cardboard hand at King Street Station that instructs vistitors to look up at a tiny exposed patch of original ceiling and imagine the restoration that will “soon” be underway there. Well, that wizened little hand might finally be right.

The city of Seattle bought the historic landmark from BNSF Railway last month for $10 (You’re reading that right- originally they agreed on $1 but neither the city nor the railroad could process so small a check) and is now looking for a project manager to lead a $30.5 million design and renovation of the 102-year-old building.

First up: replacing the leaky glazed tile roof. Work will also include seismic reinforcement, clock face repairs, and restoration of the exterior and the waiting area.

Statements of Qualifications for project managers are due by 4 p.m. April 11. That’s next Friday.

The project manager is expected to earn between $400,000 and $550,000 with the project running until December 2011.

Click here to get the RFQ packet, or call 800-833-6388. Questions? Call SDOT project manager Trevina Wang at (206) 684-3072 or e-mail her. The notice ran in the DJC on March 26 and 28.