Patterson calls for early renewal and expansion of Veterans and Human Services Levy

July 13, 2009

Summary

Dedicated funding for public health would be added

Story

Facing the possibility of losing vital public health and human service programs throughout King County, Metropolitan King County Councilmember Julia Patterson today introduced legislation that would ask voters in November to renew the Veterans and Human Services Levy two years early. The proposal would expand the existing levy’s rate and scope to include public health and additional human services programs.

Historically, the County’s general fund has been the principal source of funding for health and human services, but in recent years has become increasingly strained as revenues to the County continue to decline. Balancing the 2010 budget will likely require approximately $50 million in cuts, or nearly 10 percent of the general fund – on top of the $93 million cut needed to balance the 2009 budget.

“It is unacceptable that agencies that save lives, reduce the cost of criminal justice, and provide the fabric for our civilized society are forced to beg for more funding each and every year, while King County has less and less to give,” said Patterson, chair of Health and Human Services issues on the Council and chair of the King County Board of Health. “As it stands, health and human services cuts will be necessary in 2010. I believe that we should give voters the choice of avoiding them in this November’s election.”

The proposed new levy rate would be determined over the next two weeks, as the Council is required to meet deadlines for submitting ballot measures for the general election to the Elections Office. Under the proposal the scope of the levy would be expanded to include more funding for veterans programs, health services, and humans services not currently funded in the existing levy.

King County voters approved the first Veterans and Human Services Levy in 2005. The levy currently raises $13.3 million per year for six years for housing and humans services and will expire in 2011. Half of the funding supports programs for veterans and their families and half supports programs for all King County residents in need of human services. Through an earlier renewal of the levy, additional dedicated funding would become available for health services.