Juvenile Justice, Addiction Treatment and Tax Reform Highlight King County’s Agenda for State Legislature

December 4, 2017

Summary

Council unanimously approves county’s Legislative Agenda

Story

Battling addiction, improving the treatment of juvenile defenders, and providing tax equity top the agenda that King County will take to Olympia during the 2018 Session of the State Legislature. The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously approved the county’s Legislative Agenda, the roadmap the County will use in their discussions with members of the Legislature during the 60-Day session.

Providing access to treatment for those suffering from mental illness and addiction remains one of the County’s highest priorities. The County is calling on the state to help provide mental health and addiction treatment on demand. The County is also asking for funds that will focus on stabilizing community behavioral health rates as a step toward delivering better health outcomes.

The Council is leading the effort toward improving the juvenile justice system and reducing the number of children of color who are disproportionally represented in the system. For 2018, the County is asking for the ability of juvenile courts to use diversion funding pre-adjudication, an opportunity to aid youth prior to a verdict. King County will also focus on implementing policies that support rehabilitation and reduces recidivism.

King County taxpayers are responsible for almost half of Washington’s revenue, but less than a quarter of that revenue comes back to the County. This imbalance is likely to grow as County homeowners are going to be impacted by the state’s school funding plan adopted during the last legislative session.

To mitigate the state’s reliance on King County taxpayers, the County is calling for a more equitable tax system. To aid those on fixed incomes who are paying property taxes, the County wants the state to adjust qualifying income level on senior property tax exemption to a percentage of county median income as well as allowing an extension of the exemption to local levies.

The 2018 Legislative Agenda also calls for:

• Investment in infrastructure by addressing the underfunded county regional road system,

• Increasing the affordable housing supply,

• Strengthening state laws to deter hate-motivated criminal activity,

• Support state policies that reduce carbon emissions and accelerate a transition to clean energy.

The 2018 Session of the Washington state Legislature begins January 8.