Difficult vote on proposed veterans and human services levyI recently voted against a proposal to place a measure on the November ballot that would increase property taxes through a new veterans and human services levy. Funding for these services has been one of my top priorities. In addition to the original levy, I led the effort to approve the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency sales tax which generates $45 million a year for mental health and chemical dependency services. However, I first learned of the new tax proposal only days before it was introduced on July 13 and saw the specifics of the legislation for the first time one day prior to voting on it in a Budget Committee meeting on July 21. The Council was required to act no later than July 27 in order to meet elections department deadlines for placing items on the November ballot. Through my work on the original veterans and human services levy, I know that putting a successful tax measure on the ballot is a complex undertaking, requiring at a minimum:
In short, it requires months of preparation – the last step of which is careful consideration by the Council. None of these actions were taken on this proposal. In this economy, I could not vote to put a tax measure on the ballot that was not thoroughly vetted by stakeholders, analyzed by staff, or carefully considered by my colleagues. Additionally, my first priority is successfully renewing the veterans and human services levy in 2011 and I was concerned that in this bad economy a rushed attempt that fails now with the voters will jeopardize efforts to renew this critical levy in 2011. Regardless of my vote on this tax, I remain strongly committed to funding for veterans and human services and will continue to work towards the successful renewal of the veterans and human services levy in 2011. In the meantime, I will continue my efforts to address the current budget crisis in a financially responsible way that prioritizes direct public safety, health, and human services. Read more:
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Budget “lifeboat” for human services kept afloatIn the 2009 budget, many health and human services programs were placed in a six-month “lifeboat” that – without new revenue sources – was set to be eliminated on June 30. The Executive proposed using more than $2 million in out-year reserves, set aside to help close the 2010 budget shortfall, to fund many of these lifeboat programs for the remainder of 2009. However, with no identified future funding source for these programs and a projected $50 million budget shortfall for 2010, I expressed concern about the Executive’s proposal. I worked with Councilmembers Dow Constantine and Larry Gossett to introduce an alternative that had two goals: 1) to fund the most critical elements of the human services safety net, and 2) to maintain the reserves that will be needed to close next year’s budget gap. Our proposal was adopted by the Council and achieves these goals by making cuts throughout the general fund and reprioritizing those dollars for the human services safety net. As part of the plan, the Council will cut $875,000 from its 2009 budget allocation. Also filling the gap will be $110,000 in unspent funds from the Elections Office and Department of Assessments, and $900,000 in cuts to Executive branch agencies. The Council also prioritized funding for those lifeboat programs that provide direct services to vulnerable populations and reduced the lifeboat funding amount for all programs by approximately one-third. Read more:
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District One resident named "Metro Operator of the Year"
Ineke DeBoer was recently recognized as Metro’s 2008 Operator of the Year. I had the pleasure of speaking at the ceremony, which was held at Metro’s North Base in Shoreline. There are approximately 2,800 transit operators, and 84 were selected as Operator of the Month in 2008. Those 84 operators then voted to name Ineke Operator of the Year. Congratulations and thank you, Ineke! |
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Support for Puget Sound as Maritime Heritage Area
As the sponsor of the motion, I am very pleased that King County is supporting this effort. National Heritage Areas are not regulatory and inclusion within a Heritage Area does not effect land use regulations or other property rights. Rather, the federal designation is an economic development tool, promoting tourism and supporting the region’s working waterfronts. It would also bolster the efforts of heritage organizations to preserve the area’s maritime history and protect this natural resource. |
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Assessor appointment updateThe Council recently voted to appoint Lynn Gering as the King County Assessor. She will serve as Assessor until the results of the November general election are certified. Rich Medved, who also sought appointment to this position, withdrew from the appointment process following health complications. My thoughts are with Rich and his family. |
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Countywide community forums
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About my E-Newsletter Councilmember Bob Ferguson on the Web: www.kingcounty.gov/ferguson I hope you enjoy my updates! Please review my recent e-newsletters. Click here to remove yourself from my e-newsletter list. Click here to subscribe to my e-newsletter. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at bob.ferguson@kingcounty.gov. Phone: (206)
296-1001 | Fax: (206) 296-0198 | TTY/TDD: (206) 296-1024 | Toll Free:
(800) 325-6165 |
The Council adopted a 
Countywide Community Forums is a King County public engagement program overseen by the King County Auditor. The forums enhance citizen participation, engagement, and education in government through a network of periodic public forums where people gather in small groups throughout the county to discuss current issues and provide important feedback to county government and other public officials.