Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine will transmit a $169 million supplement to the 2019-2020 budget that contains funding for emerging issues. The update, to be considered by the King County Council, will be paid by savings, existing funds from the adopted $14 billion budget, new grants, and higher-than-expected revenues.

Story

The mid-biennial budget update contains priorities for Executive Constantine and members of the King County Council.

“With this supplemental budget, we will invest in people and programs that make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive,” said Executive Constantine. “Through careful management of our biennial budget, we are able to address these priorities within existing revenues, and continue to make King County the best run regional government in the nation.”

Investing in HPV Prevention - $264,000
Approximately 700 cases of cancer occur each year in both females and males in Washington state that are potentially preventable through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. However, about one-half of adolescents have not completed the HPV vaccine series. Public Health would receive additional funds to help expand their efforts to reach the national target of 80 percent of adolescents completing the two-dose HPV vaccine series in order to protect against these cancers by the following actions:
•       Launching a centralized reminder postcard mailing to approximately 75,000 adolescents who have not completed their HPV vaccine, based on state records.
•        Expanding the youth-led School-based Health Center HPV Vaccine Promotion project from 15 to 21 high schools.
 •        Doubling the number of private clinics participating in the King County Child and Adolescent Health Improvement Partnership project to improve adolescent immunization rates by working with five additional clinics, targeting 7,500 adolescents. 

“I very much appreciate Executive Constantine including additional funding in this supplemental budget to continue implementation of our comprehensive HPV vaccination plan,” said Rod Dembowski, chair of the King County Council. “We can prevent these kinds of cancers by increasing awareness of this vaccine and facilitating access to it, consistent with the best traditions of Public Health Seattle-King County.  I look forward to working with the Executive going forward to seek funding for full implementation of our comprehensive strategy to achieve the Healthy People 2020 goals as soon as we can. This work will save lives.”

Support for Property Tax Exemptions - $58,423
An additional 12,800 King County seniors and people with disabilities are expected to apply for property tax exemptions as a result of a change in state law that raises the annual income threshold for those who qualify for exemptions from $40,000 to $60,000. The proposed budget funds two additional staff members in the Department of Assessments to support the expanded exemption program.

“The Executive and I, and others, worked hard to convince the legislature to expand our property tax exemption and deferral programs,” said Assessor John Wilson. “But this expansion will increase our workload.  I want to thank the Executive for recognizing that, and proposing this supplemental appropriation for our office.  I urge the Council to support the Executive’s request.”

ITA Outpatient Recovery Pilot - $366,000
A new pilot program for King County’s Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) Court will link people who received multiple orders for court-ordered mental health treatment with intensive community-based mental health treatment and regular check-ins with the Court.

Approximately one-third of the ITA patients seen from 2012-2016 were seen on at least two separate petitions for detention. Furthermore, about 30 percent of the patients released from hospitalization on a Less Restrictive Order (LRO) are returned to the court for violations.  

The pilot, modeled off a therapeutic court approach, will serve up to 25 people at a time, and is a partnership between the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Department of Public Defense, Superior Court, the Department of Judicial Administration, and the Department of Community and Human Services.

Increased Staffing for Children and Family Justice Center - $1.27 million
The proposed budget invests in safety and wellbeing for staff and youth at the new Children and Family Justice Center, which will open in late 2019. To support King County’s public health approach to juvenile justice, a new program manager will oversee juvenile programming, clinical services and training.

Nursing capacity will be increased with the addition of a new nurse supervisor and additional backfill support, and 11 officers and one supervisor will be hired to ensure a safe, secure environment for juveniles and make sure their care and programming needs are met.

Quotes

With this supplemental budget, we will invest in people and programs that make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. Through careful management of our biennial budget, we are able to address these priorities within existing revenues, and continue to make King County the best run regional government in the nation.

The Executive and I, and others, worked hard to convince the legislature to expand our property tax exemption and deferral programs. But this expansion will increase our workload.  I want to thank the Executive for recognizing that, and proposing this supplemental appropriation for our office.  I urge the Council to support the Executive’s request.

I very much appreciate Executive Constantine including additional funding in this supplemental budget to continue implementation of our comprehensive HPV vaccination plan. We can prevent these kinds of cancers by increasing awareness of this vaccine and facilitating access to it, consistent with the best traditions of Public Health Seattle-King County.  I look forward to working with the Executive going forward to seek funding for full implementation of our comprehensive strategy to achieve the Healthy People 2020 goals as soon as we can. This work will save lives.

For more information, contact:

Alex Fryer, Executive Office, 206-477-7966