Would you pay a new tax to battle disease?

Seizing the spotlight of the swine-flu scare, supporters of public health Wednesday renewed their call to give local authorities the power to raise taxes dedicated to health programs.

Their immediate goal: Revive a Senate bill that would allow counties to create public-health districts with taxing authority to help fund such agencies as Public Health — Seattle & King County.

That bill died in committee this year, but supporters hope to persuade Gov. Chris Gregoire to add it to the list of unfinished business if she reconvenes the Legislature for a special session this month.

Departing King County Executive Ron Sims said lack of steady and adequate funding is eroding local officials' ability to respond to swine flu, also known as H1N1, and other disease outbreaks.

"We are living, quite frankly, on borrowed time," Sims warned at a news conference, flanked by two Metropolitan King County Council members; Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent; and public-health officials.

King County relies on local, state and federal money to run a wide range of programs to protect and promote public health, including immunizations, low-cost clinics and restaurant inspections.

The county's public-health budget for 2009 is $187.2 million. That's $14 million less than the cost to maintain services at 2008 levels. What's more, public health lost a fixed source of income when Washington voters did away with the state's motor-vehicle excise tax a decade ago.

The state and King County stepped up to fill the gap. But the amount of support depends on the size of state and county coffers, both of which have shrunk in the recession.

Dr. David Fleming, King County public-health director, said swine flu has cost his agency $70,000 in staff and supply costs.

"That's $70,000 we did not have," he said.

Keiser said she wants Gregoire to give her Senate Bill 6074 another shot, which would permit counties to create public-health districts with independent power to levy taxes and issue bonds.

Such districts would be able to impose property taxes of up to 30 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation, or $120 a year on a house valued at $400,000, without voter approval. In addition, they could ask voters to raise sales taxes by up to 3 cents per $10 purchase specifically for public health.

Keiser said that with state funding drying up, it's critical to tap money elsewhere.

"Crisis in public-health (funding) is a public-safety crisis," she said.

Kyung Song: 206-464-2423 or ksong@seattletimes.com