July 2009
Dear Neighbor,
Learn more about the proposed Veterans and Human Services Levy on my website: |
King County is facing the possibility of losing vital public health and human service programs, which help save lives, reduce the cost of criminal justice and provide the fabric for our civilized society. Each year, health and human service agencies are being forced to beg for more funding, while King County has less and less to give. Today I 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.
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.
As it stands, health and human service cuts will be necessary in 2010. I believe that we should give voters the choice of avoiding these cuts in this November’s election.
For more information about this legislation, please visit my website.
Sincerely,
Julia
Patterson
King County Councilmember - District 5
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