Don't cut human services, public tells King County Council at budget hearing in Kent

More than 200 people overflowed a courtroom Tuesday night at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent to protest proposed King County budget cuts in 2010.

The Metropolitan King County Council hosted the public hearing to learn more about area residents' funding priorities when it comes to county dollars. The Council will make adjustments to the budget and is scheduled to vote to adopt the document Nov. 23.

King County Executive Kurt Triplett has proposed a 2010 budget to the Council on Sept. 28 that includes 367 layoffs and program cuts to help make up for a projected $56 million shortfall due to declining revenues. Triplett's proposed cuts include $3.7 million in human services.

Many of the nearly 100 people who signed up to testify Tuesday in Kent pleaded to the Council to fund the human services programs they run at the same levels as in 2009.

"The resources are dwindling when the needs for families are growing," said Mike Heinisch, executive director of Kent Youth and Family Services, to the Council.

Heinisch pointed out that many of the human services programs that receive county funds are interconnected, so cuts to one service impacts others.

"We can't do our job if a domestic violence survivor comes in and we do not have anywhere to send them because the services are not there," Heinisch said.

Representatives from the Domestic Abuse Women's Network that serves Seattle and South King County protested the county's proposal to cut $117,000 next year from their program. The county provided $146,000 to the program in 2009.

"We are here on behalf of the clients and victims of domestic violence and their children," said Kay Tomlinson, president of the DAWN board of directors. "We serve many families in the region, especially in South King County."

Tom Douglas, a Seattle chef, spoke as a board member for Food Lifeline, a nonprofit Seattle group that sorts and repacks food for distribution to food banks throughout Western Washington.

"For every $1 we receive, we can make five meals," Douglas said. "We are going to lose $133,000 (in county funds). That's $665,000 worth of meals. We ask that you maintain our funding in 2010."

Councilmembers said they'll take the comments they get at these budget hearing into consideration as they decide what services to cut.

"These meetings make a big difference," said Councilwoman Julia Patterson, whose District 5 includes Kent, in an interview before Tuesday's hearing. "They raise awareness about the impact certain programs have on our criminal justice system, the impacts our investments have on the overall quality of life and these meetings especially make us aware of how important strategic human services investments are.

"For instance, we now know because of people who have educated us in these meetings that investments in domestic violence prevention programs reduce our criminal justice costs incredibly. It reduces assaults and potential murders and helps to reduce homelessness."

King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu testified the Council keep funding the King County Law Library at the Regional Justice Center for $157,000 a year. She said residents who cannot afford an attorney often use the library to figure out how to get restraining orders, parenting plans and other legal documents. Triplett's proposal cuts the Kent location but keeps the law library in Seattle open.

"We need a law library as a resource for the citizens of South King County," Yu said. "They deserve the same services as the people in Seattle."

For more information about the county budget, or to testify online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget.aspx.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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