Human services, public health highlight King County’s 2008 State Legislative Agenda

Federal agenda calls for salmon recovery assistance

The Metropolitan King County Council today called on state lawmakers to work with King County on restoring funding for mental health and chemical dependency services for youth and providing a stable funding source for public health.

The County’s companion federal legislative agenda urges funding for salmon recovery, transportation infrastructure, buses and passenger ferries, and health care.

“Replacing the South Park Bridge is a top regional priority and a federal contribution to the funding package would significantly aid efforts to maintain this transportation lifeline for South King County communities,” said Council Vice Chair Dow Constantine. “Our congressional delegation has done a great job championing foot ferries and we would like to further that partnership through the King County Ferry District.”

“Looking ahead to 2008, the three most significant issues facing our region will be transportation, transportation and transportation,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “It is critical that King County receives support from both the state and federal government in addressing this paramount issue.”

In 2005, the state approved funding for additional treatment services for low-income youth, of which King County received $610,000. The state Legislature reduced funding for treatment services significantly in 2007, with King County receiving no treatment funding. The County is calling on lawmakers to reinstate the $310,000 allocation of youth treatment expansion funds King County was to receive in 2008.

“I am especially pleased that King County will be lobbying hard at the federal and state levels to improve mental health treatment and to protect public health and human services from painful budget cuts,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “The state Legislature has passed important legislation allowing King County to develop an action plan for dealing more humanely with mental illness and drug dependency in King County, rather than warehousing people in jail who desperately need treatment. I look forward to continuing our productive partnership with our state and federal delegations on these and many other issues.”

“There are a number of challenges facing King County, but the biggest cost driver on our general fund budget continues to be criminal justice,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett. “The County has made great strides in the ‘paradigm shift’ from incarceration to intervention. State funding for programs that help keep young people out of the criminal justice system is essential.”

The Council called on the legislature to address the crisis in housing affordability by expanding the state’s Land Acquisition Pilot Program to fund affordable housing and allow for purchases that preserve existing affordable multi-family housing.

“Housing production must catch up with population and job growth while also protecting our natural resources and open spaces,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, chair of the Law, Justice and Human Services Committee. “We can produce badly needed affordable housing if the state is willing to fully implement the balance between these goals directed by the Growth Management Act.”

The Council also urged the Legislature to continue efforts to find a stable revenue source to adequately fund public health for all counties. Public Health clinics in North King County started 2007 in danger of closure before interim funding was provided by the County to keep them open for the year. The 2008 King County Budget approved by the Council fully funds all public health centers in King County for another year, but the Council is calling on the Legislature to ensure stable funding.

“We rely on the state’s support for public health and healthcare initiatives here in King County,” said Council Chair Julia Patterson. “We’re finding ways to creatively address the obesity epidemic, stagnant funding, and communicable disease prevention, but we need the flexibility to be a ‘laboratory’ for new innovations that can make significant strides towards improving health.”

“Our fiscal partnership with the federal government is vitally important if King County is going to continue delivering critical government services to our residents,” said County Executive Ron Sims. “So it is equally important that we continue to collaborate with our regional partners and leverage local resources to more effectively advocate for federal help with the challenges facing our region.”

Other items on the 2008 State Legislative Agenda include:

Preservation of Basic County Government Services - Legislation that provides revenue tools for county governments to meet fiscal needs, particularly for criminal justice programs.

“Two important themes can be found in especially our state legislative agenda - money for unfunded state mandates and retaining and providing for local control,” said Councilmember Jane Hague.

Eastside Rail Corridor Trail Transportation Improvement Projects - Funding for the Wilburton Tunnel and Stampede Pass Freight Mobility projects that support the objectives of the Eastside Rail Corridor Trail project.

Infrastructure Improvements - Funding for the 2006 Growth Management/Housing Task Force recommendation to support infrastructure improvements that are necessary to support growth in urban areas.

Salmon recovery, transportation, and health care reform are among the County’s priorities in its 2008 Federal Legislative Agenda (FY 2009). The Council will ask the state’s Congressional delegation to lobby for:

Salmon recovery – Funding for the Duwamish/Green Ecosystem Restoration Program and the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The County is also seeking $90 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Program, which is critical to habitat recovery projects in King County.

Transportation – Funding to expand the hybrid bus fleet, purchase passenger-only ferries, and replace the South Park Bridge.

Health Care - Secure $350,000 in the Department of Health and Human Service’s Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services Appropriations for the Puget Sound Health Alliance, for development of a health information database to measure and share quality-of-care information across employers and health plans in the Puget Sound region.

“It’s critical that our state and federal legislative agendas reflect the priorities of the citizens of King County—better transportation, a clean environment, affordable housing, and healthy and safe communities,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “I look forward to working with our representatives in Olympia and Washington, D.C. to bring home tools to accomplish these priorities.”


Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system. Type in “2007-0630” and “2007-0638”