City Hall
Council Proposes Restoring Human Service, Shelter Funding
The city council---clearly relieved that both of the state liquor privatization initiatives appeared to be failing as of last night---will be taking a scalpel to Mayor Mike McGinn's proposed budget all week, proposing cuts to some programs, additions to others, and lots and lots of fee increases to help pay for it all. This morning, they discussed municipal court and the human services department.
The council had contemplated a "November surprise" scenario in which both liquor-privatization initiatives (I-1100 and I-1105) passed and Initiative 1107 (repealing taxes on candy, soda, and bottled water) passed---a scenario that would add $11.7 million to the city's 2011-2012 budget shortfall. Currently, 1105 is failing and 1100 seems likely to fail. If only 1107 passes, the city will still have to deal with an additional $2.9 million two-year budget shortfall. (If 1100 does pass, that will add $6.8 million to the biennial shortfall).
The council wants to restore funding for a number of human service programs the mayor had proposed cutting, including:
• Restore funding for four intervention programs for low-income domestic violence offenders, at a cost of $148,650. According to a 2006 study, offenders who participated in intervention programs reoffended just 6 percent of the time, compared to more than 30 percent who didn't participate in intervention.
• Expand the city's winter shelter program. Under one scenario, the shelter would run from November through February at a cost of $20,000; in the other, it would run between October and March at a cost of $71,000, with case management services on site. The council seemed inclined to go with the latter (more expensive) option. "If you look at the successful shelter services that we engage in, those that tend to be more successful have services present," council member Tim Burgess said.
• Add $50,000 to homeless shelter provider SHARE's budget "to help defray the rising cost of gas, bus tickets, employee benefits, and utilities associated with three shelters, Bunkhouse Day Shelter, Night Shelter, and SHARE2 Program to reduce a budget shortfall." In exchange for the extra funding---which would bring SHARE's city funding to around $350,000---the group would be required to expand shelter availability and come up with a plan to raise more funds on its own.
• Restore funding for the human services department's indoor air quality program, which assesses homes for mold and allergens to fix unhealthy living conditions and reduce asthma.
• Restore funding for crime-prevention workshops and community outreach provided by the Seattle Neighborhood Group.
• Restore funding for child care information referrals.
• Bring funding for foot patrols in the International District back to their current levels.
• Restore funding for a recreational program for Chinese-speaking seniors in the ID.
• And restore funding for a number of domestic violence programs, including one that provides supervised visits between batterers and their children, and another that gives landlords training on domestic violence.
The council, which also proposed cutting between $200,000 and $300,000 from the department's administrative contracts, will continue discussing the mayor's budget all afternoon.
The council had contemplated a "November surprise" scenario in which both liquor-privatization initiatives (I-1100 and I-1105) passed and Initiative 1107 (repealing taxes on candy, soda, and bottled water) passed---a scenario that would add $11.7 million to the city's 2011-2012 budget shortfall. Currently, 1105 is failing and 1100 seems likely to fail. If only 1107 passes, the city will still have to deal with an additional $2.9 million two-year budget shortfall. (If 1100 does pass, that will add $6.8 million to the biennial shortfall).
The council wants to restore funding for a number of human service programs the mayor had proposed cutting, including:
• Restore funding for four intervention programs for low-income domestic violence offenders, at a cost of $148,650. According to a 2006 study, offenders who participated in intervention programs reoffended just 6 percent of the time, compared to more than 30 percent who didn't participate in intervention.
• Expand the city's winter shelter program. Under one scenario, the shelter would run from November through February at a cost of $20,000; in the other, it would run between October and March at a cost of $71,000, with case management services on site. The council seemed inclined to go with the latter (more expensive) option. "If you look at the successful shelter services that we engage in, those that tend to be more successful have services present," council member Tim Burgess said.
• Add $50,000 to homeless shelter provider SHARE's budget "to help defray the rising cost of gas, bus tickets, employee benefits, and utilities associated with three shelters, Bunkhouse Day Shelter, Night Shelter, and SHARE2 Program to reduce a budget shortfall." In exchange for the extra funding---which would bring SHARE's city funding to around $350,000---the group would be required to expand shelter availability and come up with a plan to raise more funds on its own.
• Restore funding for the human services department's indoor air quality program, which assesses homes for mold and allergens to fix unhealthy living conditions and reduce asthma.
• Restore funding for crime-prevention workshops and community outreach provided by the Seattle Neighborhood Group.
• Restore funding for child care information referrals.
• Bring funding for foot patrols in the International District back to their current levels.
• Restore funding for a recreational program for Chinese-speaking seniors in the ID.
• And restore funding for a number of domestic violence programs, including one that provides supervised visits between batterers and their children, and another that gives landlords training on domestic violence.
The council, which also proposed cutting between $200,000 and $300,000 from the department's administrative contracts, will continue discussing the mayor's budget all afternoon.
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