|
Printer Friendly |
I-695 could drastically alter Sim's modest budget
I-695 could drastically alter Sims' modest budget
Tuesday, October 12, 1999
By NEIL MODIE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
King County Executive Ron Sims unveiled a fiscally modest, $2.6 billion county
budget proposal for 2000 yesterday, but his real budget might not emerge until
Nov. 3.
That's the day after the general election, and the day after county officials
learn whether Washington voters have approved Initiative 695. It would slash
car-tax revenue to the county and require voter approval of all state and local
government tax and fee increases enacted after Jan. 1.
If I-695 passes, Sims said, he will be ready to transmit a dramatically smaller
budget request Nov. 3 reflecting changes needed to accommodate the loss in vehicle
tax revenue.
The projected revenue loss to the county is an estimated $122 million in 2001,
the first year the full effect of I-695 would be felt.
In proposing what he called a "lean and mean" 2000 budget only 3.5 percent
higher than that for 1999, Sims offered an essentially hold-the-line spending
plan lacking any bold or dramatic new initiatives.
That was an approach generally praised by County Council members to whom Sims
delivered his annual budget message. They now will write their own version and
vote on it Nov. 22.
"I want to compliment him on a budget more conservative than his necktie,"
said council budget chairwoman Jane Hague, R-Bellevue, alluding to Sims' gaudy
red, blue and yellow tie.
The executive attributed the spending increase mainly to two factors: medical-benefit
costs, which are escalating much faster than inflation, and rising criminal
justice costs. Of 101 proposed new-employee positions, 88 would be in criminal
justice.
The budget contains a potpourri of mostly moderate, inflation-driven increases
in county fees, including those for pet adoptions (to $75 from $60), new water-system
permits (to $230 from $150 for final inspections), restaurant food inspections
(to $240 from $210 for 75 or fewer seats) and retail bakery inspections (to
$195 from $175).
All county building and development inspection and permit fees would go up
5 percent across the board, the same as for 1999.
By proposing a 2000 budget only 3.5 percent higher than the current budget,
the Democratic executive set a lower spending level than what the Republican-dominated
County Council targeted a year ago in its three-year financial plan.
The council had called for reducing the annual spending increase to 4 percent
in 2000 and to 3.5 percent in the 2001 budget, a year later than Sims.
The Sims budget wasn't low enough, though, for the council's two most outspoken
fiscal conservatives, Rob McKenna, R-Bellevue, and Chris Vance, R-Auburn.
They noted that Sims' spending level would violate voter-approved Referendum
47, which limits the budget increase to inflation -- currently 1.4 percent --
unless a "substantial need" is cited.
The executive, however, sent the council a proposed declaration of substantial
need because of such factors as the rising medical-benefit and criminal-justice
costs. The council approved a similar declaration for the 1999 budget.
"My budget is more conservative than what (the council) had anticipated,"
Sims said later. "Rob (McKenna) and Chris (Vance) have never represented the
mainstream. . . . They believe you can cut (spending) without consequence."
P-I reporter Neil Modie can be reached at 206-448-8321 or neilmodie@seattle-pi.com
