Drafter
Clerk 01/28/2003
Title
A MOTION declaring the council's support for legislation that would modify existing state law to allow King County the authority to refer a local option sales tax of one-tenth of one percent to a vote of the people to fund health and human services that have historically been funded and provided at the local level.
Body
WHEREAS, King County is working to manage a current expense (CX) general fund deficit of approximately $140 million over four years, including a deficit of approximately $50 million in 2004-2005, and
WHEREAS, although King County continues to increase internal efficiency and reorganize its functions in order to reduce its spending significantly, the county can no longer afford to deliver many services to its residents, and
WHEREAS, King County is dependent on a strong fiscal partnership with the state, despite projected state revenue declines. If King County is going to be able to continue delivering basic government services to our residents, King County needs a preservation - if not an expansion - of state support, and
WHEREAS, if the state is not able to expand support to adequately fund the mandates upon local government, revenue tools should be provided to local governments to allow funding for services historically provided by local governments, and
WHEREAS, King County has historically funded and provided a variety of local health and human services throughout the county, including services in both incorporated and unincorporated areas, and
WHEREAS, King County government is without the revenue tools to support health and human services that have historically been provided at the local level in King County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The council supports legislation that would modify existing state law to allow King County the authority to refer a local option sales tax of one-tenth of one percent to a

vote of the people to fund health and human serv...

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