For More Information: Julia Patterson (206) 296-1013
                                Larry Gossett (206) 296-1010
                                Cynthia Sullivan 206 296-1002
                                Larry Phillips 206 296-1004

King County Executive Ron Sims and Metropolitan King County Councilmember Julia Patterson today announced a major initiative to preserve essential health and human service programs in the face of severe state, county, and city budget shortfalls. The Regional Policy Committee, Chaired by Patterson and including elected officials from Suburban Cities, the City of Seattle, and King County will work with various human service providers over the next six months to develop ‘lifeline support’ for the most essential human services needed throughout the region.

“I am moved by the compassion and willingness of these talented local officials to come together in this time of need,” said Patterson. “I have confidence that our work over the next six months will produce real options for protecting our most vulnerable residents – young and old alike – because our Council Chair and our Budget Chair, as well as the many other leaders on this committee, are fully supporting these efforts.” The Regional Policy Committee, was created by voters in 1992 as part of the Metro-County merge and is empowered to develop regional plans for public health, human services, open space, housing, solid waste management, criminal justice, jails and district court services.

Executive Sims has initiated similar efforts to redefine jail, district court and park services affected by the $50 Million budget crisis faced by county government. “I am pleased that the preservation of essential human services will be reviewed at the highest levels of local leadership,” said Executive Sims. “Thanks to the initiative and hard work of Julia Patterson, the Regional Policy Committee will bring together community leaders and service providers from across King County to address this critical issue. I support Council member Patterson’s efforts to find ways to streamline administrative costs, consolidate services and identify revenues to preserve the most essential health and human services programs. The Regional Policy Committee will present preliminary recommendations to the Executive and Council in the fall of this year to provide alternatives for consideration during deliberation of 2003 city and county budgets.

“With most local cities and King County in severe financial straits, it is essential that all levels of government and the community work together to meet the critical needs of our neighbors,” stated Sonny Putter, City of Newcastle Councilmember and Suburban Cities Association Co Chair of the Intercity Cooperation Policy Board. Other members of the Regional Policy Committee are elected officials from Suburban Cities including Ava Frisinger (Issaquah), Jean Garber (Newcastle), Kathy Keolker-Wheeler (Renton), Alan Kiest (Lake Forest Park), Linda Kochmar (Federal Way), Elodie Morse (Kenmore), Pat Sullivan (Covington), Jim Haggerton (Tukwila), Rosemarie Ives (Redmond), Sandy Guinn (Bothell), Trish Borden (Auburn), Phil Noble (Bellevue) and John Williams (Milton).

Besides Patterson, other members of the Regional Policy Committee include Councilmembers Nick Licata, Judy Nicastro and Richard Conlin from the City of Seattle. Seattle funds and hosts many human service programs such as food banks, mental health treatment facilities, senior and youth centers, and crime prevention and victim intervention services. “The best measure of an effective government is the protection of its most vulnerable people,” said Judy Nicastro. “Seattle is very concerned about reductions to health and human services caused by shortfalls in the state and county budgets. We must all work together to provide these basic services.”

“Bellevue currently works very closely with many human services agencies, all of which are being impacted by the County’s reductions,” said Phil Noble. “The region depends on this network for many of the services that are being provided to all citizens, and it makes sense to work on this as a regional problem.”

In addition to Chair Patterson, King County Councilmembers on the Regional Policy Committee include Carolyn Edmonds, Pete von Reichbauer, Kent Pullen, Jane Hague, and Larry Gossett. Gossett also Chairs the Council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee, is quick to link the provision of basic human services as the most desirable alternative to costly justice system impacts. “Among the least fortunate in our community, it is oftentimes clearly a matter of ‘Prevention over Detention’ for our public investments. I look forward to coordinating the work of the County Council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee with the efforts of the Regional Policy Committee.”

The Regional Policy Committee will finalize the work plan at their next meeting, scheduled for May 1st, and will meet regularly over the next six months to work on development of a recommendation to preserve health and human services for this region.

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