Election 2010 aftermath: County warning about ‘draconian’ cuts

Though the final vote count will take weeks, most of last night’s King County/Seattle results were fairly clear, and further counting is not likely to change the outcome. One such issue: The defeat of County Proposition 1, which sought to raise the sales tax to get money that county leaders said would stave off more budget cuts for public safety and human services. With that measure failing 44% yes to 56% no, two county councilmembers involved in the budget process have just released a statement warning of “draconian” cuts as a result (note that many of these services are provided by the county for city residents too, so this isn’t just an unincorporated-area issue) – read on for the statement:

Metropolitan King County Council Budget Chair Julia Patterson and Councilmember Larry Gossett, members of the Council’s Budget Leadership Team, today released this statement in response to the defeat of a proposal to raise the sales and use tax in King County by two-tenths of one percent to fund criminal justice programs:

“The idea of putting this measure on the ballot was to give the voters of King County a voice in the tough decisions that will be taking place over the next two weeks as we complete the 2011 County Budget. The voters have been clear in their choice and we are prepared to make the necessary cuts to public safety to balance this budget.

“The theme for our budget deliberations has been ‘Balancing the Budget—Sharing the Pain.’ State law requires us to adopt a balanced budget and we will meet that goal. We will do our best to make sure that cuts are made in the most responsible and least harmful way possible. But everyone needs to know the painful choices we will need to make to achieve a balanced budget—choices that will change the face of criminal justice and human services in King County.

“The result of the election leaves us with few options—and all of those options are draconian. Services that protect our most vulnerable citizens and provide options for people who need treatment more than a jail cell are not going to be available because the funds are simply not there.

“Voters have also told us that County Government must continue to find ways to be more efficient and smarter in using their money. We’ve accomplished a lot in the last year to meet their expectations, and we will continue that effort in the future.”

The county budget is scheduled to be finalized in less than three weeks; more info here.

none November 3, 2010 (10:30 am)

While King County cuts basic mandated services to the point of collapsing the system (crime will increase, more criminals on the street, youths don’t get prevenative help etc.) the ferries will keep on chugging. Millions spent on foot ferries due to a property tax levy passed by the King County Council (Constantine being part of this) with NO PUBLIC VOTE. The King County Council finds dedicated funding for lesser priorities (foot ferries being a pet project of some), yet can’t even fund their mandated functions! Get rid of foot ferries, reduce parks, reduce afis, reduce noxious weed control and the list goes on of spending on lesser priorities….the Council staff of 9 gets $13 million dollars and can’t even perform their duties! Funding Safety should be done first.

jedifarfy November 3, 2010 (10:50 am)

It’s just a scare tactic. You cut our police in White Center and it will just go down the tubes again. Disgusting attempt at scaring citizens should equal their pay CUTS. I’m surviving on less than $20,000, why shouldn’t some of them. >:(

ksm November 3, 2010 (11:03 am)

I am losing my job as a result of Prop 1 not being passed. I am a Probation Officer attached to the Domestic Violence court. I lost my job in another county last year, (along with several other of my fellow officers) as a result of budget shortfalls.

CCW November 3, 2010 (11:16 am)

Too many Americans are selfish, short-sighted and ignorant.

Baba November 3, 2010 (12:21 pm)

I’m amazed with the commenter transformation on this board. It’s so nice to see the other part of WS, the common sense part! What a welcoming development! It seemed that common sense was suffocated in WS for awhile by the die hard liberal agenda.
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As I said before. We all need to agree to voluntarily lower our standard of living. We have no choice!!! We either do it voluntarily or market forces will do it for us!

Meg November 3, 2010 (12:31 pm)

Maybe “too many Americans are selfish, short-sighted, and ignorant”. Or, maybe too many private-sector Americans are now struggling with less income or unemployment, and having to make personal draconian cuts.

What I don’t understand is, why can’t KC level a 20% pay cut across all their personnel? That would help save some of the jobs. Why is it the private sector is able to chop benefits & wages on their employees, but the public sector can’t?

Ex-Westwood Resident November 3, 2010 (12:52 pm)

Easy Meg…
It’s called UNIONS. The Clowncil is in bed with the unions and if they want to keep their contributions coming from them they will bow down to them and give them anything they want. To the detriment of the rest of us.
This county…hell this city and state; will cut safety, education and essential services before it cuts ANY pet social programs or union payrolls.

OP November 3, 2010 (12:59 pm)

Note: The Council members never actually define what it is they intend or that is marked for cutting. All they do is making the sweeping statement that “Services that protect our most vulnerable citizens and provide options for people who need treatment more than a jail cell” are the most vulnerable. Okay, so what are those programs? Are those programs working or not working? Etc. and so forth. Specifics in the above letter would be more helpful than rhetoric, council members.

KBear November 3, 2010 (1:47 pm)

Cutting social programs is selfish. Not admitting that some taxes are necessary and a government needs a reliable source of revenue to function is short-sighted. Blaming public employees and their unions is ignorant.

HolyKow November 3, 2010 (1:55 pm)

Note:

There is to be no complaining when the butcher’s bill comes down. The people have had their chance to kick in a little each for the greater good and they have chosen to let the council stand fast with their current money.

So when you hear about a prisoner getting released only to do something even worse than his original crime, thank the NOs…

when you call 911 and they say “PLEASE HOLD, YOUR CALL WILL BE ANSWERED BY THE NEXT AVAILABLE REPRESENTATIVE, YOU ARE THE…31st… CALLER IN THE CUE, YOUR EMERGENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US!…thank the NOs

When your house or business is burning and the SFD says they have 3 car accidents and a tire fire to deal with, they will get to your burning life as soon as they can…thank the NOs….

bridge to somewhere November 3, 2010 (2:41 pm)

While I appreciate that everyone’s hurting and nobody’s in the mood for new taxes, I also know several people who work in public safety for King County and I can assure you this is not a “scare tactic;” there will be severe cuts in basic public safety next year.

redblack November 3, 2010 (2:52 pm)

yes. let’s compromise.
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you can cut the ferry district if i can cut “the Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District.”
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done and done.

Ex-Westwood Resident November 3, 2010 (3:38 pm)

Cutting social programs is the ONLY thing that should be cut.
There are HUNDREDS of organizations that can do a MUCH better job at those programs than the county can.
Want to make a difference?
Give to those and convince the county to GET OUT OF THE CHARITY BUSINESS!!!!
Public Safety SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS A THREAT FOR HIGHER TAXES!!!!
While your at it, want to save transportation dollars???
Stop spending a dis-appropriate amount of those dollars on 5-10% of the commuting traffic and spend it where it will do the greater good….on the MAJORITY of commuters!!!

Baba November 3, 2010 (3:50 pm)

@Ex-Westwood Resident, Amen, brother or sister, Amen!!!

Geocrackr November 3, 2010 (5:40 pm)

Thank you, “conservative” sociopaths, for forcing all of us to live in a third-world country instead of a civilized society.

Baba November 3, 2010 (7:24 pm)

@Geocrackr,
“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money [to spend].”

Margaret Thatcher.

Lorelee November 3, 2010 (7:34 pm)

I’ll loose my job too, but most sadly, the low income pregnant women, infants and kids I work for will take the biggest hit. Among this population we will see more preterm birth, unintended pregnancy and the impacts of poor nutrition and much more. The poor are getting poorer and charity orgs or businesses can not keep up with their needs (as suggested in this blog). King County very effectively provides these services- yes, I said it. King county is effective at providing public health services. I’m astonished by the bueracracy and waste in the private sector. Take a visit to any local public health clinic and you’ll see nurses, social workers and nutritionists busting their butts with very limited resources. And yes, we are taking a pay cut and lesser benefits…. But not for long… You voted us away.

Ex PD November 3, 2010 (7:54 pm)

Those of you who feel that more taxes should be paid… I have good news. You can pay as much additional tax as you like. You can even get your like-minded friends together and pool your resouces. So rather than accuse those who have said “enough”… just put your money where your mouth is and dig down deep and pay as much as you would like.

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The cost, not the level, of polices services must be reduced. Their recent contract was just too expensive and should be re-negotiated to a more practical level. With the extraordinary cost of the rich government benefits and pension, the cost per deputy is too high. Subsequent years of the current contract call for even more increases without regard for the financial realities in the county.

Meg November 3, 2010 (8:22 pm)

It ain’t the conservative or liberal sociopaths who are forcing lower standards on all of us… it’s the economy stupid. It’s because the real estate bubble popped, the economy built on that bubble crashed, the perception of wealth died and left behind the cold reality of less money and lower standards for everyone. Not surprisingly, it’s taking government longer to catch up with the rest of us.

Ex-PD says it well. The cost, not level, of services must be reduced.

ws November 3, 2010 (10:31 pm)

Yeah, welcome to the 3rd world, Seattle. What does “King County” government do for us in “overtaxed” Seattle, anyway? I don’t have the data, but I would bet the tax increase for King County went down by more in the unincorporated areas that KC Gov serves most! I’m getting tired of the freeloader mentality in rural America.

OP November 4, 2010 (12:12 am)

Thank you, “conservative” sociopaths, for forcing all of us to live in a third-world country instead of a civilized society.

You really think America is a third world country? You can’t possibly be that unintelligent and ignorant.

Ray2447 November 4, 2010 (2:15 am)

The taxpayer funded, domestic violence industry has dis-served little children for years. Little children are least able to contend with domestic violence in their families. According to the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services and DOJ statistics, more kids are killed by neglect and abuse in a year (1,760 in 2007), than all the female intimate partner homicides in a year. Mothers are the single largest group of kid killers, according to HHS and they have a rate twice that of fathers. Nowhere near the money is spent to protect kids from kid killing mothers as is spent by the domestic violence industry to protect women. A lot of innocent men are witch-hunted by the corrupt, gender feminist influenced, taxpayer funded, domestic violence industry. Involving the corrupt d.v. industry in an attempt to prevent abusive and neglectful deaths of children is a big mistake. No place better exemplifies the corruption of the taxpayer funded, domestic violence industry than “Los Misandry” at Youtube.

amused November 4, 2010 (5:56 am)

Stop giving money to people who don’t contribute to society and you can solve most of your budget problems.

ws November 4, 2010 (7:22 am)

I think the “3rd world” thing was a joke (that’s the way I meant it). But even in some “3rd world” countries I’ve visited the residents have health care and the students go to school in actual buildings, as opposed to moldy, rusty portables. Just what does “contribute to society” mean? I would hope we all contribute to society in some way.

Kayleigh November 4, 2010 (8:49 am)

Ray, in a thread full of ridiculous whiny, goverment-is-victimizing-me-wahhhhh, conservative comments, yours is truly one of the most ridiculous ones. I’m sure witnessing verbal or physical abuse between their parents has no effect on children at all; it’s just a liberal commie anti-man plot planned by those uppity women who just don’t know their places.
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Unbelievable.
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No whining, please,from the conservative peanut gallery when your pet government program doesn’t work the way it should because you saved 32 cents a month on your freaking Skittles tax.
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We’ll just make all our public safety people live on a lot less money! Why, that’s just brilliant. Misery loves company. Maybe we can just pay our cops and medics minimum wage–it’s good enough for those kids working at McDonalds! Yes, let’s continue to define the middle class downward until middle class eventually means “you’re not living in a refrigerator box so shut up and be grateful!”

Skeeter November 4, 2010 (9:46 am)

Do folks even know how generous the benefits are for King County employees? Health, dental, and vision at NO COST to the employee. A retirement plan at NO COST to the employee. Unbelievable! How many private sector get these benefits? None! I think I figured out why the county is having money problems…

http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs/benefits.aspx

---- November 4, 2010 (11:02 am)

To the person who says that KC employees have no cost to their retirement – get your facts before posting. KC Police are mandated to pay around 9.5% towards retirement, this is not an option, I don’t call that NO COST, 9,5% is a COST, it gets deducted out of every check. As for medical, KC changed medical plans (requiring employees to pay more out of pocket) and Constantine recently sent out a memo saying “and the county has spent $26 million less than expected on health care costs.” Again, get your data straight, also – go take a look at Boeing and Microsoft’s pay and benefits – they are private sector.

saturn November 4, 2010 (11:09 am)

Amazing that King County is spending millions on Foot Ferries, yet is cutting court services and other help that kids and youth need. There are other options available to adult people who use the foot ferries, these poor kids have no options. Shame on Constantine, the King County Council and anyone else who support things like Foot Ferries, that are lesser priority than Safety / Courts.

Meg November 4, 2010 (11:11 am)

Again, it’s the economy stupid. The *economy* is changing the middle class financial status — and all over this planet, not just here. You don’t get that? There’s no big hateful (or loving) group of people waving their magic wands and defining the direction of the middle class downward or upward.

Now, about the statement that *someone* is *making* government employees live on a lot less money… that’s ignorant. Just imagine if your financial situation is tight and can no longer shop at Sears. A few months later, you get an accusing letter from their headquarters: “Don’t whine when your favorite items aren’t here because you saved yourself 32 cents a month. Oh, by the way, we’ll just have to make all our employees live on a lot less money! Why, that’s just brilliant. Misery loves company.” And what if their letter accused you of defining the middle class downward, because they are no longer getting the same revenues for current employee compensations?

Kayleigh November 4, 2010 (6:19 pm)

Meg, it’s government’s job to protect and serve the people. It’s Sears’ job to protect and preserve profits (thank you Bill Maher for that quote concept.) You don’t get that?
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Public sector employees are the new “welfare Cadillac queens”–the supposedly privileged group that the right wingers love to hate. I’d personally rather my public servants be paid a good wage–if for no other reason than that it’s a benchmark–something for those of us in the private sector to point to.
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But thanks for cheerleeding the rapid decline of the American lifestyle. We definitely need more people like you helping the race to the bottom go even faster.

redblack November 4, 2010 (6:37 pm)

well-said, kayleigh.
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i’d challenge any and every of the teabaggish posters here to look a cop, fireman, EMT, city light line worker, KC roads worker, or any other unionized public sector employee in the eye and tell them that they’re just lazy, overpaid, socialist slobs.
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i’m sure (not!) that all of these working class public servants all so afraid of their unions’ leadership that they could never quit their jobs. or that they’re intimidated by their unions because… because… they secretly advocate for lower wages or whatever other silly-assed thing “conservatives” think about union workers being slaves.
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before any of you respond, i advise you to actually read the KC budget for 2011. the unions have already conceded COLA increases and pension cuts.
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my advice to dow constantine? cut roads funding. now. all of it.
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let’s see just how long it takes “conservatives” to appreciate tax revenue to pay for basic necessities in a civil society.
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gee, i guess we all have golden calves now, don’t we?

Baba November 4, 2010 (6:57 pm)

@ Kayleigh,
“It is not the function of the government to keep the citizen from falling into error;
it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error.”
— Justice Robert H. Jackson
(1892-1954), U. S. Supreme Court Justice
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Stop living in the past, W. Bush is history, American people have spoken on tuesday.
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Yes, We need “the rapid decline ot the American lifestyle”, and the sooner it happens the faster we can rebuild and save this Great Country of USA!

redblack November 4, 2010 (8:23 pm)

baba, there’s a recurring theme in your posts about people voluntarily reducing their living standards.
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if the economic downturn has you tightening your own belt so far that you have to shop at wal-mart, why don’t you give up your cable teevee? or your internet connection? health insurance? cell phone?
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instead, you bemoan taxation and unionized county employees.
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interesting.
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btw, you haven’t thought out the full implications of your justice jackson quote. here’s a hint: government is not a private sector business.

Meg November 4, 2010 (8:39 pm)

Extremely ignorant it is to say “cheerleading” is leading the down-sizing of the American lifestyle. Have you heard of the *Global* economic downturn? Read about it.

Personally, I’m not against cutting all roads funding. I don’t have a car.

redblack November 4, 2010 (9:30 pm)

and yet, meg, you’re still rich by global standards.
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80% of the world doesn’t have access to toilet paper, let alone the means to purchase it. hell, they’ve never had it and would probably see it as a weird – possibly heretic – frivolity. yet we have the luxury of taking it for granted.
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is that where we want to be? is that the kind of belt-tightening we need in order to “realize” that trickle-down economics really does work?

Meg November 4, 2010 (9:56 pm)

I never said I wasn’t. I just stated my lack of interest in road funds.

Let’s ALL hold hands and magically *wish* more money into the air, shall we? (you know, as Americans, who still have access to toilet paper) LOL! Better not mention budgeting and belt-tightening, or heavens, our toilet paper could magically disappear! Oh what a mental picture. You have a great sense of humor, redblack! thanks.

Now, for what I wanted to say…Of course government is supposed to be there to protect and serve the people who pay their taxes. However, there comes a day when citizens say “sorry, no” to a government’s proposed price increase, and if that same government comes back to its citizens with a proverbial gun to their heads and growls, “You cheap jerks, how dare you say no? Hand me more money quietly, or I’ll make sure you pay in other ways, if you know what I mean. And what, are you watching TV? Give it up and your internet to pay me, and oh, by the way, interesting that you can still afford to Eat… you dirty taxpayer.”

Well, I don’t call that behavior serving the best interests of the public. I call it muscling, leeching, the behavior of a Stationary Bandit, as opposed to a Roving one. As taxpayers, as citizens, we are not well-served by a bullying government that looks out and sets a separate standard for itself, first and foremost.

And yes, as an American, I am privileged to still have toilet paper. And, I trust my public sector friends still have toilet paper, too. :)

redblack November 5, 2010 (7:09 am)

i was using toilet paper as an example of why “global economic downturn” is kind of like a kid complaining about his ice cream falling off of his cone to a starving kid living in a cardboard box. europe is largely okay and their citizenry is mostly happy, because they have smarter government. (that is, until their leaders start acting like ours and listen more to the jingle of the coin than the people’s voices.) but it’s more of a first-world downturn, because the third world (the majority) can really go no lower.
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back to the topic: you see taxes and government as coercive. i see them as a very reasonable and affordable way to build and maintain the great things this country has. if it wasn’t for taxes and government, there would be no private sector economy. things like sewer systems, electrification, roads, EMS/911, etc. are things that only government can or will provide money to build. because of taxes and government, we built and defined the term “first world nation,” which is an amazing feat for a country that is almost 3,000 miles wide. our citizenry is largely wealthy by global standards – and some of us take the term “wealth” to inconceivable heights – because of government. we take electricity, clean running water, sewage, universal education, access to good food, standardization and safety of consumer goods, secure monetary policy, insured banking, wireless communication, the internet, and a whole slew of other things for granted because of government and taxation.
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most importantly and locally, though, those municipal services need to be maintained, improved, or replaced as they age, and it costs serious money. i, for one, will gladly pay that money to have a baseline quality of life for everyone in king county, and systems that benefit and work for everyone, rich and poor. when people start talking about defunding it or the people who work on/for it, i get a bit peeved.
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i often hear the phrase muttered, “well this isn’t the time to raise taxes.” but no one ever says, “this isn’t the time to raise credit card rates and fees.” or cable rates. or cell phone rates. how about, “this isn’t the time to lower the APY on my savings account!” but the private sector can easily convince you why those rate hikes are necessary and excellent ideas; when the county proposes a .02% targeted sales tax hike to pay for our county’s neglected and needy people, suddenly it’s “fiscal responsibility” time and “enough!”
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ask yourself which sector is going to give you the most benefit for your cost increase, which sector is more frivolous, and which one is more accountable to you. i think you should be thankful that you have the luxury of complaining about a government that is open and running a tight, balanced budget. try to ask comcast or verizon how much of your bill goes to advertising or paying their CEO’s $400 million salary (or whatever s/he/it makes.)

ws November 6, 2010 (1:05 am)

I think state wide and even county voting patterns have made it clear. There are freeloaders who want their social security, medicare, freeways, etc. but don’t want to pay for it, and there are responsible areas (like Seattle) who will pay for education and other services needed and wanted. Let the rural areas of King County and others fend for themselves, then. If they don’t want to pay their fair share, what can we do?

Sorry, comment time is over.