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A MOTION requesting the executive to prepare an assessment report to inform council deliberations regarding possible renewal of the best starts for kids levy.
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WHEREAS, in November 2015, King County voters passed the first best starts for kids levy to generate funding for a wide range of programs to support promotion, prevention and early intervention for King County's children, youth and families, and
WHEREAS, the goals of the existing best starts for kids levy are to ensure that: babies are born healthy; King County is a place where everyone has equitable opportunities for health and safety as they progress through childhood; and communities offer safe, welcoming and healthy environments that help improve outcomes for all of King County's children and families, regardless of where they live, and
WHEREAS, the best starts for kids levy was created to align with King County's equity and social justice principles and includes a focus on systems and policies change so that all communities in King County can thrive and prosper regardless of race or place, and
WHEREAS, fifty percent of the existing levy's proceeds are allocated to promotion, prevention and early intervention programs for children under age five and pregnant families, thirty-five percent are allocated to promotion, prevention and early intervention programs for children and youth ages five through twenty-four years old; ten percent are allocated to creating safe and healthy communities of opportunity; and five percent are allocated to evaluation of the best starts for kids initiative. The allocation has been beneficial in delivering services to populations in need of the services, and
WHEREAS, the best starts for kids levy will expire December 31, 2021, and
WHEREAS, the best starts for kids levy is a voter-approved, six-year levy lid lift, renewal of which requires voter approval of a ballot measure, and
WHEREAS, the best starts for kids levy distributes resources across the region...

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