On Tuesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine unveiled his 2020-2021 biennial Proposed Budget, which includes an investment of $400 million in regional housing, as well as funding for anti-racism efforts, criminal legal system transformation, and community engagement.
In addition, Constantine’s budget includes the loss of nearly 450 County positions in 2021-2022 as the region continues to manage the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.
“With the investments laid out in this budget, King County puts its money where its values are,” said Constantine.
“This year, 2020, will surely be remembered as one of the most pivotal of our lifetimes. How we act, what we do, the choices we make, the commitments we fulfill, will define us – not only now, but to generations to come,” he said.
Constantine’s budget includes a measure that proposes the King County Council enact a 0.1 percent sales tax increase to fund a $400 million investment in permanent housing for the chronically homeless – those HUD defines as residing in a place not meant for human habitation for at least year, and with a serious physical or behavioral health issues.
The new funding would provide a place to call home for about 2,000 people, and, with State legislative approval, take advantage of the current favorable real estate market to make an immediate difference in people’s lives.
In addition, Executive Constantine also proposed the King County Council tap into $4.2 million of the Rainy Day Fund to ensure those individuals and families who have been moved out of emergency shelters to hotel rooms around the region don’t lose that housing if the U.S. Senate fails to take up COVID-19-related financial assistance to states and local governments by the end of the year.
Public Health – responding to the pandemic
Continued efforts to comprehensively respond to the COVID-19 crisis in King County will largely depend on federal funding next year.
Expected FEMA reimbursement and the $262 million of federal CARES Act funding has covered most COVID-related Public Health spending in 2020, including:
• $60 million for acquisition and development of isolation and quarantine facilities, PPE, and shelter de-intensification.
• $40 million for new and redeployed staff to respond to COVID and incremental COVID-related leave.
• $29 million for Public Health testing and contact tracing.
Anti-racism and criminal legal system transformation: invest, divest, re-imagine
In partnership with advocates, community-members, and public servants throughout King County government, Executive Constantine put together a package of proposals that reforms the criminal legal system, and funds ongoing work to confront racism as a public health crisis.
Divest $4.6 million of marijuana tax revenue
Constantine’s proposed budget shifts $4.6 million of marijuana excise tax revenue from law enforcement to community-based programs. This represents all the money received by King County from retail marijuana sales. $2.8 million would be devoted to a program to help individuals vacate convictions of marijuana-related offenses that are no longer illegal, and settle unpaid court fines, fees, and restitution that could lead to incarceration. Black communities have historically been disproportionately harmed by our nation’s “war on drugs,” and this begins to undo some of that harm.
Invest $6.2 million in “Restorative Community Pathways”
In lieu of filing charges, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will refer up to 800 young people by 2022-2023 to receive comprehensive, community-based services. Restorative Community Pathways also includes appropriate services and support for harmed parties, and restitution so that youths who cannot pay fines and other financial obligations do not end up in a cycle of probation violations and incarceration. Most of the impacted youth are low-income people of color, and this novel program was conceptualized and developed by community organizations who serve those youth, including CHOOSE 180, Community Passageways, and Creative Justice.
Invest $750,000 to co-create and implement alternative to policing in urban unincorporated King County
The Executive Office will partner with the King County Sheriff’s Office and community members to co-create and implement a new community-driven safety model in urban unincorporated areas such as White Center, Skyway and East Renton. This may involve hiring behavioral health professionals to partner with Sheriff’s Office Deputies and divert cases from criminal courts and jails. The goal is to design the program in 2021 and implement no later than 2022.
Divest $1.9 million in detention by continuing limits on jail population
During COVID, King County has reduced the daily adult population in the jail to 1,300, down from approximately 1,900 pre-COVID, and the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and others will seek to maintain and further reductions. This will allow closure of one floor (out of 12) at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle. The savings estimate is based on gradual implementation in 2022. Savings will be much larger in subsequent biennia and will be devoted to support programs outside the criminal legal system.
Invest $600,000 to respond to regional gun violence
Public Health Seattle-King County’s Zero Youth Detention program will continue the regional gun violence prevention initiative in 2021-2022. This program is focused on areas of the County experiencing increases in gun violence, particularly among young people of color.
Invest $2.7 million in a community justice model to divert eligible first-time offenders in lowest level cases from the judicial system, offering services to break the cycle of chronic offenses
The Executive’s Office will work with the Department of Community and Human Services and community organizations to implement King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg’s proposal to divert approximately 1,000 of the lowest-level filings from the judicial system each year. Instead of facing traditional prosecution, these individuals – who are facing their first charge and are disproportionately young men of color – will be offered a community-based alternative that emphasizes restorative justice and restoration for harmed parties. Violent crimes and crimes against people are not eligible. Community-based diversion alternatives will be developed, including a restitution fund for harmed parties. The program will eventually be fully funded through staff savings in public defense, prosecutors, and the courts.
Investments in unincorporated King County
King County is prioritizing community-driven input into the biennial budgeting process for residents of the unincorporated area by expanding community participation and decision-making to improve County services, programs, and facilities.
Investments include:
• $10 million in seed funding for a community center in Skyway, a long-time need that has been requested from community. Other sources of funding will be necessary to complete the project, which is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars.
• Investing $10 million in new capital projects in the urban unincorporated areas of Skyway, White Center, Fairwood, East Federal Way, and East Renton.
• $1.8 million for programs co-created with residents in the unincorporated area, including youth marijuana prevention and employment programs.
In addition, Constantine’s Budget will include investments for fare enforcement on Metro Transit, community engagement, unincorporated King County, clean water and climate change.
