Drafter
Clerk 09/02/2009
Title
A MOTION requesting the executive to collect program, funding and revenue stream information for the purpose of identifying state unfunded mandates, and directing the auditor to conduct a financial review of the information.
Body
WHEREAS, under RCW 43.135.060, after July 1, 1995, the legislature shall not impose responsibility for new programs or increased levels of service under existing programs on any political subdivision of the state unless the subdivision is fully reimbursed by the state by: (a) a specific appropriation; or (b) increases in state distributions of revenue to political subdivisions occurring after January 1, 1998, and
WHEREAS, since 1995, the state has increasingly put demands for new programs or services that have not been fully reimbursed to the county on the order of millions of dollars, and
WHEREAS, in today's economic climate the county can no longer bear the burden of costs that are morally and legally the state's obligation to pay, and
WHEREAS, the council desires to work with all branches to gather the information needed in order to pursue reimbursement of these ongoing costs from the state;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The executive is requested to identify all increases in state distributions of revenue to the county occurring after January 1, 1998, and their permissible uses.
B.1. The executive is also requested to inventory all new programs or increased levels of service to the public that have been imposed by and required by the state legislature after July 1, 1995, the cost of which was not fully funded by the state by a specific appropriation or, to the extent known, by use of state distribution of revenue. The inventory shall include the following for each new program or increased level of service:
a. a description of the new program or increased level of service, including identification of a quantifiable benefit that the public receives from the new program or increased level of service;
b. the citation for each step of increase, including, at a minimum, citation to the RCW or bill number with year;
c. the estimated cost for each year for the past three years for the new program or increased level of service;
d. the basis for the cost estimates;
e. identification of sources of funding, including specific appropriations, and also including state distributions of revenue if known;
f. a description of how the shortfall was addressed; and
g. a contact person with knowledge of the information provided.
2. Examples of areas that may have new programs or increased level of service that should be included in the inventory include, but are not limited to, dependency hearings, the Becca bill, sexual predator tracking and firearm background checks.
C. Sample inventory instructions and a sample inventory template are attached as Attachments A and B to this motion. The executive is free to modify the samples as needed. The executive should work with the prosecuting attorney's office for assistance in identifying which new programs or increased levels of service should or should not be included in the inventory. The executive should work with the auditor's office for financial consultation.
D. The executive is requested to report the increases identified under subsection A. of this motion and the results of the inventory referenced in subsection B. of this motion to the council by June 1, 2010. Thirteen paper copies of the report should be filed with the clerk of the council, for distribution to all councilmembers, the auditor's office and the prosecuting attorney's office. Before the filing of the final report, the executive is encouraged to share ongoing results of the inventory with the auditor's office and the prosecuting attorney's office as information becomes available, and to focus efforts based on input from the prosecuting attorney's office.
E. The auditor's office shall conduct a financial review of the new programs or increased levels of service submitted by the executive. The auditor's office shall report its findings to the council by September 1, 2010. Twelve paper copies of the report
should be filed with the clerk of the council, for distribution to all councilmembers and the prosecuting attorney's office.