HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 3638CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 3638
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
REGARDING THE WORK OF THE KING COUNTY BUDGET
ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
WHEREAS, the King County Budget Advisory Task Force (KCBATF) was formed at
the direction of King County Executive Ron Sims in November 2002; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the KCBATF is to evaluate expenditures and revenues of
King County's current expense fund and to make recommendations regarding how to create a
balanced budget for 2004 and a direction for the future of King County government and its
service delivery; and
WHEREAS, the KCBATF will be making recommendations to King County in June
2003 that could significantly impact the mix of services provided by King County in the future;
and
WHEREAS, the actions of the County related to their budget and service reductions in
recent years have impacted cities and city residents; and
WHEREAS, the City of Renton has worked in collaboration with other cities in the
County to provide suggestions for inclusion in the KCBATF recommendations;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON,
WASHINGTON, DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above findings are true and correct in all respects.
SECTION II. The City of Renton supports the following recommendations for
the King County Budget Advisory Task Force:
RESOLUTION NO. 3638
A- The urban subsidy, the $41 million in regional tax revenues that are
supporting local unincorporated services, should be extinguished and re-directed into regional
services: The County must take immediate steps to extinguish the urban subsidy and the funds
should be re-directed to provide regional services that benefit city residents as well as residents of
unincorporated King County. Regional services such as public health and human services are just
two examples of the services that benefit all of the citizens of King County.
B- Expenditures in unincorporated King County should equal the revenues
generated from those areas: The County should, over a short period of time (3-5 years), match the
expenditures dedicated to operations and services in the unincorporated areas to the general
government revenues produced in those areas.
C Take specific actions to reduce the urban subsidy: The County should
reduce service levels in unincorporated areas to align expenditures in these areas with revenues
and should consider the following ideas to assist in the reduction of the urban subsidy: (1) Seek
additional revenue in unincorporated areas, such as an unincorporated area utility tax, (2) Explore
contracting with cities adjacent to Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs), especially for planning and
permitting services, and (3) Address each PAA with an individualized approach. These and other
proposals should be explored; however, this will require cooperation between the County and
cities and must be part of a firm decision by the County to eliminate the "urban subsidy."
D. Abrogating regional responsibility to cities is not a solution to King County
fiscal challenges: This practice simply results in shifting the costs to another political subdivision
representing the same taxpayers.
E. Single issue, dedicated revenue streams are not an appropriate long-term
solution: The County should use a comprehensive approach to address the numerous issues
RESOLUTION NO. 3638
facing the region and should not seek dedicated revenue streams for individual service areas. A
comprehensive review and plan for the County should be developed in collaboration between
King County and cities in King County.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 2nd day of June , 2003.
Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 2nd day of June , 2003.
Jesse Tanner, Mayor
Approved as to form:
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Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
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