Dunn pleased proposed Council Budget includes funding for Enumclaw Health Clinic

November 13, 2014

Summary

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Great effort was made over the 2015-2016 budget cycle to find ways to keep the vital Enumclaw Health Clinic funded for the next two years. King County, working in collaboration with local businesses, individuals and cities, were able to generate enough funding to keep the doors open for two more years. The funds from the County are part of the proposed 2015-2016 County Budget which was sent to the County Council today for final action on November 17.

“Through the hard work of the Council and many local partners, we were able to keep the Enumclaw Health Centers doors open,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn. “This was one of my top budget priorities. In this budget environment, we need to collaborate in new ways to meet the needs of our residents and that’s what we did with the health center.”

The cities of Enumclaw and Black Diamond were part of a coalition that agreed to provide funding to keep the clinic doors open. The Enumclaw clinic is a satellite office of the Auburn Health Center which was proposed to be closed as part of the Executive-Proposed 2015-2016 Budget. The Enumclaw satellite office provided services for over 1700 clients in 2013. Without the satellite office of the Auburn Health Clinic, families would have to drive into Kent or Federal Way to receive these services.

The Council’s budget proposal would maintain funding of the Auburn office and by extension the Enumclaw office.

“Enumclaw was proud to be part of the effort to keep the Enumclaw Health Center open,” said Mayor Liz Reynolds. “Our community relies on the center to help our young families get off to a healthy start as they raise their children. My thanks to King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn for working with us to find a solution and to the King County Council for including the funding in their budget”

“We were pleased to join with the other local cities to provide funding to help keep the Enumclaw Health Clinic open,” said Black Diamond City Councilmember Tamie Deady. “This center provides a vital health lifeline for many Black Diamond residents.”

The Council is scheduled to vote on the budget proposal on at its Monday, November 17 meeting.

The two-year budget will expire at the end of 2016.