Drafter
Clerk 01/29/2009
title
A MOTION establishing an regional coordinating committee of the council in 2009 to provide a forum for consultation and early identification of impacts to cities caused by potential county service reductions, especially in the areas of public safety and public health.
Body
WHEREAS, after extensive consultation, the council and cities have adopted regional policy initiatives such as the juvenile and adult justice operational master plans, realignment of the district court system, expansion of drug and mental health courts and the development of framework policies for human services, and
WHEREAS, in concert with regional partners, King County has implemented special revenue programs like the mental illness and drug dependency sales tax and the veterans and human services levy to address regional human service needs and to help manage regional justice system program costs, and
WHEREAS, while these new revenues have addressed specific funding needs, they have not addressed the structural nature of public funding for basic services in Washington counties, especially public safety, and
WHEREAS, at a June 5, 2008, news conference the separately elected leaders of the county's criminal justice agencies expressed collective concern that proposed 2009 budget cuts would mean drastic reductions in public safety services, and stated that the regional system was in peril, and
WHEREAS, the separately elected leaders of the county's criminal justice agencies have discussed future budget reduction impacts, which could include suspension or deferment of certain current county services, with the responsibility for continuing these services, as well as related costs, falling to local cities, and
WHEREAS, the council actively seeks participation in the development of its budget and policy priorities from citizens, partners and stakeholders through such efforts as public meetings, citizen boards and commissions and the citizen engageme...
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