Social services to hit crisis with budget woes

King County Executive Ron Sims transmitted his proposed 2009 budget to King County Council Oct. 13.

As expected his “balanced” budget proposal responds to an approximately $93 million deficit.

There are many reasons for this financial situation which has loomed on the horizon over King County government, and multiple other counties in Washington, far longer than the recent national economic malaise. Simply stated, there is a “structural deficit” in the county’s ability to generate revenue vs. the expense of operating county services.

The proposed budget is now in the hands of the King County Council, who will pass a 2009 budget No. 24.

For human services, health and housing, funded by the City of Kent and King County, the clock is ticking toward a devastating reduction in King County funds.

For 20-plus years Kent has been a leader among suburban cities in funding human services, providing 1 percent of its general fund for vital community services in good times and bad. Kent has already committed $821,869 for 29 programs provided by 18 agencies in general funds for 2009.

Kent’s support allows agencies to leverage additional funds, which extend the impact of that investment in “meeting community basics, increasing self-reliance, strengthening children and families, building a safer community and improving health and well being” (Building a Healthy Community, City of Kent Human Services Master Plan 2007-2012).

However, Kent cannot and never will be able to do it alone. King County funds directed to human services provided by agencies in Kent far exceed local funding, providing the underlining basis for many human services agencies.

It’s this successful partnership with the agencies, King County, Kent, state, federal, and frequently United Way of King County, that agencies rely on piecing together the funding puzzle that allows our doors to open to any and all residents of Kent. For many agencies King County is the largest piece in the puzzle.

Just a sample of the agencies serving Kent that will be seriously impacted by King County’s proposed 2009 budget: Catholic Community Services, Child Care Resources, Crisis Clinic, DAWN, Kent Food Bank, Health Point, Kent Youth and Family Services, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Multi-Service Center, Public Health Seattle King County, Safe Havens.

Nearly every resident of Kent has had cause to use one or more of these agencies and/or your family and friends have. In the case of some agencies the substantial reduction in King County funding in 2009, with a proposed elimination of funding over the following two years, will force those open doors closed for good.

Remaining local funding from Kent and United Way of King County will be so overwhelmed with demands whatever positive impact previously achieved in improving the lives of our families, friends and neighbors will not be possible essentially reducing those funds to the status of junk bonds.

Those of us in the social services sector know that a time of crisis is also a prime time of opportunity.

Now more than ever this crisis presents the opportunity for all the elected leaders of King County to work together, and in dialog with all the cities elected leaders, putting aside differences, positioning, partisanship, in order to resolve this crisis.

The healthy future of all our communities and Kent demand no less.

Michael Heinisch is executive director of Kent Youth and Family Services and board president of South King Council of Human Services