County human services funding at stake in 04 budget

Published 6:14 am Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The most controversial idea in King County Executive Ron Sims’ proposed 2004 budget is charging rent to the solid waste division to dump trash at the county landfill and using that revenue to fund human services, said Metro-King County Council member Carolyn Edmonds, D-Lake Forest Park.

But without that new revenue source, significant cuts in human services in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and all over the county could result.

“In this district that would mean funding for the Center for Human Services, Food Lifeline, for the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center, for Northshore Youth and Family Services and for the community clinics,” Edmonds said.

Sims proposes charging the solid waste division rent for use of Cedar Hills Landfill, bringing in $7 million. While all the other county funds are balanced, the county’s $516 million general fund projects a $24 million shortfall for 2004, which could be $7 million higher if this rent idea doesn’t fly.

It’s controversial because it’s a major policy change, Edmonds said.

Suburban cities such as Shoreline and Lake Forest Park aren’t happy with such a drastic policy change. City officials say they worry that changes in policies could mean higher rates for their residents. Several suburban cities, including Shoreline, have notified the county that they are interested in renegotiating agreements they have with the county which require their garbage haulers to dump garbage only in the county-operated landfill or transfer stations, said Shoreline city manager Steve Burkett.

“Primarily our concern is that we want our residents to have access to competitive disposal rates,” Burkett said.

Edmonds says no fee changes are proposed and that rates should not go up if rent is charged to solid waste.

“Rates could not go up any higher because the city of Shoreline already pays the highest rates allowed by the state Utility and Transportation Commission” to have garbage hauled away, she said.

“If we charge rent, Shoreline shouldn’t see any change in service from their curb-side pickup. What they will see at the transfer station is an adjustment of hours with winter and summer months.”

Edmonds said she would support the rent agreement for one year in 2004, but then have the Regional Policy Committee work through the policy issues prior to next year’s budget.

Edmonds said that before this rent idea was proposed, much of public health and human services were paid for out of motor vehicle excise tax funds that were severely limited by Initiative 695. The Metro-King County Council is expected to approve the final 2004 budget at its Nov. 24 meeting.