Title

AN ORDINANCE creating the best starts for kids fund; and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 4A.200.

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PREAMBLE:

At a special election held in King County on November 3, 2015, the qualified electors of King County approved a proposition authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the levy limitations contained in chapter 84.55 RCW for a consecutive six-year period at a first year rate of not more than 14 cents per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation, and limiting annual levy increases to three percent in the five succeeding years, all for the purpose of funding prevention and early intervention strategies to improve the health and well-being of children, youth and their communities.  Collection of this additional tax will commence in 2016.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 1.  There is hereby added to K.C.C. chapter 4A.200 a new section to read as follows:

                     A.  There is hereby created the best starts for kids fund.

                     B.  The fund shall be a first tier fund.  It is a special revenue fund.

                      C.  The director of the department of community and human services shall be the manager of the fund.

                     D.1.  The fund shall account for the proceeds of the property tax levy approved by the voters of King County, in accordance with Ordinance 18088 on November 3, 2015, in excess of the levy limitation contained in chapter 84.55 RCW.  The six-year levy commencing in 2016, has been approved by the voters for the express purpose of paying costs as outlined in Ordinance 18088, Section 5.

                       2.  Out of the first year's levy proceeds:

                                              a.  nineteen million dollars shall be used to plan, provide and administer a youth and family homelessness prevention initiative; and

                         b.  such sums as are necessary to provide for the costs and charges incurred by the county that are attributable to the election.

                       3.  The remaining levy proceeds shall be used to plan, provide and administer the provision of a wide range of strategies to:

                         a.  improve health and well-being outcomes of children and youth, as well as the families and the communities in which they live, including, but not limited to, by ensuring adequate services and supports for pregnant women and newborns; access to safe and healthy food; support for hospitals and other mental health providers in King County to provide children and youth with access to mental health services; and developmental screening for children and youth;

                         b.  prevent and intervene early on negative outcomes, including, but not limited to, chronic disease, mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence and incarceration;

                         c.  reduce inequities in outcomes for children and youth in the county; and

                         d.  strengthen, improve, better coordinate, integrate and encourage innovation in health and human services systems and the agencies, organizations and groups addressing the needs of children and youth, their families and their communities.          

                       4.  Of the eligible expenditures described in subsection D.3. of this section:

                         a.  fifty percent shall be used to plan, provide and administer strategies focused on children and youth under five years old and their caregivers, pregnant women and for individuals or families concerning pregnancy. Of these moneys, not less than forty-two million eight hundred thousand dollars shall be used to provide health services, such as maternity support services and nurse family partnership home visiting program services;

                         b.  thirty-five percent shall be used to plan, provide and administer strategies focused on children and youth ages five through twenty-four years old;

                         c.  ten percent shall be used to plan, provide and administer communities of opportunity; and

                         d.  five percent shall be used to plan, fund and administer the following:

                           (1)  evaluation and data collection activities;

                           (2)  activities designed to improve the delivery of services and programs for children and youth andtheir communities;

                           (3)  services identified in subsection D.3. of this section provided by metropolitan park districts in King County.  Of these moneys identified in this subsection D.4.d.(3), an amount equal to the lost revenues to the metropolitan park districts resulting from prorationing as mandated by RCW 84.52.010, up to one million dollars, shall be provided to those metropolitan park districts if authorized by the county council by ordinance; and

                           (4)  services identified in subsection D.3. of this section provided by fire districts, in an amount equal to the lost revenues to the fire districts in King County resulting from prorationing, as mandated by RCW 84.52.010, for those services, to the extent the prorationing was caused solely by the levy and if authorized by the county council by ordinance.