Redmond City Council approves resolution in support of Prop. 1

Published 2:31 pm Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Redmond City Council approved a resolution supporting Proposition 1, the renewal of the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy at Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall.

During the meeting, council members praised the effectiveness of the levy, and heard testimony from several Redmond residents and staff from local human services organizations.

Since 2005, the Veterans and Human Services Levy has improved the lives of over 82,000 veterans, their families, and others across King County. The levy supports essential services like employment training, veterans’ treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), housing with support services, and services for new mothers and infants.Voters approved this levy with overwhelming support in 2005.

“This is the only countywide program that supports and provides a safety net for our veterans and some of the human services,” said councilmember Hank Margeson upon voting to support the Levy. “The remainder of all human services funding was eliminated from the General Fund in the 2011 King County budget.”

Council member John Stilin agreed.

“There’s a lot of veterans out there with health issues that need to be served,” he said, “and if nobody else is going to step up to bat, I think we should.”

In May, the King County Council unanimously voted to place a renewal of the levy on this year’s primary ballot. Proposition 1 would renew the current levy for six years at the current rate of 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value. It does not include a tax increase from the existing rate, and if approved, the average homeowner would invest $17 annually.

Council members heard testimony from several organizations providing levy-funded programs in Redmond, including Gerald Right from Hopelink, which provides employment services for very low-income individuals and families who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. Since 2008, with the support of Levy dollars, Hopelink has helped 184 individuals obtain or increase employment; 97 participants were from Redmond.

“These are individuals who, when they arrive at our program, are ready and willing to go to work but are simply lacking the skills to promote themselves.” said Right. After participating in the Hopelink program, they are able to apply, interview and go to work when they find job opportunities. Levy funds definitely made a difference right here in our city.”

Levy expenditures are carefully planned and overseen, and that oversight will continue if the levy is renewed. Two non-partisan citizen oversight boards determine how money is spent and hold programs accountable.

The boards ensure that use of every tax dollar is maximized and have made recommendations to ensure the renewal is even more effective in meeting the changing needs of returning vets and families grappling with the recession.

“The county has done a marvelous job in managing these funds and the program, which is providing a real important part of the safety net for the folks who live in our communities,” said council vice president Pat Vache. “This thing is a very outcome focused use of dollars.”