County gives health, social programs a 2-week reprieve

King County Executive Kurt Triplett has given a two-week reprieve to health and human-service programs that were slated to lose funding June 30, giving the Metropolitan King County Council more time to decide whether to save some services.

"I thought it was a financial risk worth taking," Triplett said. "I would hate to lay off a public-health nurse and hire again in two weeks. It doesn't make sense."

The council is expected to vote next Monday on Triplett's proposal to fund through year's end some — but not all — of the services the council funded for only half the year in hopes the Legislature would come to its rescue.

The Legislature authorized an increase in the Recorder's Office filing fees that the county can use for services for the homeless, but it didn't provide immediate relief for other services.

Larry Gossett, chairman of the council's Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, said he wants the county to keep paying for swine-flu control, nurses who visit child-care centers, and support for sexual-assault victims.

"These positions are crucial, and I'm very hopeful that we'll find a way to at least get them funding for the duration of the year while we work to see if we can find ways to sustain them in 2010."

Gossett said he doesn't know whether the County Council will approve Triplett's proposal to fund some programs through the end of the year.

And the executive will have "more of an uphill battle" trying to persuade the council to put a sales-tax increase before voters in November, Gossett said.

Reagan Dunn and Larry Phillips are among council members who flatly oppose a tax increase this year, and Dow Constantine has said he is skeptical. All three are running for election. Dunn is seeking a return to the County Council, while Phillips and Constantine are candidates in the Aug. 18 primary for county executive.

Triplett said last week he hopes to present a tax proposal to the council Thursday and it probably would be for a one-tenth of a percent increase in the sales tax. Under state law, the county would have to share 40 percent of the proceeds with cities and spend at least one-third of its share for criminal-justice purposes.

If approved by the council and voters, the tax would raise an estimated $24 million for the county and $18 million for cities, Triplett said. Residents now pay 9.5 cents tax on a $1 purchase in most of King County.

Triplett said increased taxes are needed if the county is to avoid potentially deep cuts to health and human services, courts, sheriff's deputies, prosecutors, jails, elections and other government functions in the face of a projected $46 million shortfall in the 2010 general fund.

The council must decide the tax question before taking a recess at the beginning of August.

Before that, the council will consider Triplett's request for $2.8 million to continue state-mandated court services, communicable-disease control, child-health programs, and housing for the homeless through the end of the year.

Triplett's request would allow some other programs to lapse, including support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, senior centers and other nonprofit organizations.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com