Title

AN ORDINANCE adopting the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Implementation Plan, required by Ordinance 19604, Section 7.A., to govern the expenditure of the veterans, seniors, and human services levy proceeds from 2024 to 2029 to achieve outcomes related to housing stability, healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, and service system access and improvement for veterans and military servicemembers and their respective families; seniors and their caregivers; and resilient communities in King County.

Body

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  After approving the first six-year veterans and human services levy in 2005, King County voters have since voted twice to maintain levy supported services for veterans and human services in King County, including adding seniors and their caregivers as a population explicitly served by the levy in 2017.  Ordinance 15279, which created the initial levy for 2006 through 2011 and placed the levy on the ballot for King County voter consideration, was approved by fifty-eight percent of voters.  Ordinance 17072, which placed the second levy on the ballot for King County voters, was approved by sixty-nine percent of voters, renewed the levy for 2012 through 2017.  Ordinance 18555, which placed the third levy on the ballot for King County voters, was approved by sixty-eight percent of voters, renewed, and expanded the levy for 2018 through 2023.

2.  In 2023, Ordinance 19604 placed a six-year renewal of the veterans, seniors, and human services levy on the ballot.  King County voters approved Proposition No. 1 on August 1, 2023, by seventy-one percent, authorizing the renewal of the levy for 2024-2029 to fund capital facilities and services for veterans, servicemembers, and their families; seniors and caregivers; and resilient communities susceptible to reduced health, housing, financial, or social stability outcomes.

3.  Ordinance 19604, Section 7.A., requires the executive to develop and transmit for council review and adoption by ordinance an implementation plan for the veterans, seniors, and human services levy.  The implementation plan, once effective, will govern the expenditure of the levy's proceeds until the veteran, seniors, and human services levy expires in 2029.  The required implementation plan is Attachment A to this ordinance.

4.  Ordinance 19604, Section 7.A., enumerates specific requirements for the implementation plan.  The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Implementation Plan for 2024-2029, dated December 5, 2023, Attachment A to this ordinance, responds to the requirements set out by Ordinance 19604, Section 7.A., by:  describing the forecasted expenditure of levy proceeds by result area and population; describing strategies to stabilize the health and human services workforce, and to expand access to counseling or other behavioral health services; making recommendations to refine levy governance; describing measurable results and a coordinated performance monitoring and reporting framework; and describing how the levy's required online annual report will be provided to councilmembers, the regional policy committee or its successor, and the public.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Implementation Plan for 2024-2029, dated December 5, 2023, Attachment A to this

ordinance, is hereby adopted to govern the expenditure of veterans, seniors, and human services levy proceeds as authorized under Ordinance 19604.