Nov. 2, 1999 Statement from Executive Sims on passage of Initiative 695

King County Executive Ron Sims tonight expressed disappointment that voters across Washington State have approved Initiative 695, and said he has grave concerns about the impacts it will have on countywide services.

"What we told the public when discussing this measure is that there were limited reserves from which we could draw at the local level to continue providing service to our citizens until the legislature provides solutions. That will become painfully apparent over the next few months and next few years as governments attempt to implement the far-reaching ramifications of Initiative 695."

This measure decimates critical services that were dependent on the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax for funding, such as our transit system, public health services and criminal justice programs. As a result, there will be dramatic reductions in our transit services and routes as well as fare increases to keep this system operating for the 80 million who board our buses each year. Public health programs will be reduced or eliminated. Adminstrative services and staff will be reduced commensurate with service level reductions.

We will all feel the pinch of this vote today. We will, however, work closely with the community to determine how best to provide what services we can now offer within our limited resources.

NOW MY QUESTIONS: 1. Does this mean he's going to use his $2 million slush fund to affset critical reductions in Public Health, etc. 2. Any chance he'll suggest that we ashcan the 1% for Art provisions? How about the $540,000 in arts grants for the next biennium? (http://www.seattletimes.com/news/entertainment/html98/king_19990909.html) 3. How about we put the brakes on things like the Elliot Bay water taxi that cost everybody, but just support a few well off people in West Seattle? 4. Is he still pushing for a $1 an hour subsidy for child care workers in Seattle at a cost of $2.9 MILLION/year?(http://www.seattle-pi.com/local/care20.shtml) 5. Is he still going to push for increased public housing subsidies to offset the rising home prices caused by SmartGrowth? (http://www.southcountyjournal.com/scjnews_archive/rcm59500.html)(http://starsky.djc.com/cgi/login/941658209?%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2F10055318.html) 6. Is he still pushing a Sound Transit plan that is over budget and behind schedule, that won't do anything that couldn't be done cheaper and better with the existing buses?

-- Mark Stilson (mark842@hotmail.com), November 03, 1999

Answers

The ghosts of taxpayers past and present have visited Mr. Sims and like Scrooge, he still doesn't get it. Maybe he should read more Dickens before it's too late. Thanks to I-695 my kids will have a merrier Christmas. God bless us everyone.

-- Taxpaying Dad (lrvacation@cs.com), November 03, 1999.