Metropolitan King County Council 516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-1000 Toll Free: 800-325-6165 TTY/TDD: 206-296-1024 Fax: 206-296-0198 council@kingcounty.gov
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Nov. 24, 2008 Councilmember Gossett: Time to find stable funding for Equity and Social Justice programs Applauds County’s commitment to vital programs for 2009After the Metropolitan King County Council unanimously adopted a 2009 County Budget that funds critically needed social programs, Councilmember Larry Gossett said his priority now is to find a stable funding source to ensure that these vital services don’t disappear.
“With a $93 million deficit we closed for 2009 and more projected shortfalls in the years ahead, it is obvious we need a permanent fix to our structural gap,” said Councilmember Gossett. “I believe we must find a dedicated funding source to support the most highly utilized health and human services programs serving the poor and disadvantaged in our community. Even with this significant reduction in general revenue funds for next year we must find ways to prioritize services for those most vulnerable: seniors, the poor, children, and other marginalized and disenfranchised populations. If we don’t, the result will be higher costs for jails, emergency rooms and food banks.”
Working with the Council’s budget leadership team, Councilmember Gossett led the effort to restore many critical programs in the County budget:
• Step Up – an innovative program addressing domestic violence primarily between children, parents and other family members;
• King County Public Health Clinics – providing medical, family planning, STD treatment and children’s health services;
• Community Center for Alternatives Program (CCAP) – focusing on rehabilitation alternatives such as day reporting, work release and job search programs for low-income, non-violent offenders;
• King County Sheriff’s Office Storefronts – storefront offices in Skyway and other unincorporated areas, staffed by Sheriff’s deputies;
• Central Area and Southeast Senior Centers – providing activities and education for senior citizens;
• Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Unified Family Court Services – therapeutic courts for those suffering from addiction and/or mental illness and legal services for families in crisis;
• Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP) and Legacy of Equality, Leadership and Organizing (LELO) – relicensing program through the courts; and
• Office of Public Defense – maintaining the current level of funding support for services and establishing a thorough review of the agency workload model.
“I am pleased we were able to effectively maintain our commitment to equity by funding critical programs to uplift the poor and keep low-level offenders out of the King County Jail,” said Gossett. “If we dismantle these programs, our County will not only face skyrocketing criminal justice costs but also increased social problems.”
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