The Beginning
2001
There was only an $18m total annual KC General Fund investment in Community Health and Human Services, which was inadequate to build well-being or even help residents meet their basic human needs
Dec 2001
King Co Executive announces the county will be getting out of the business of human services altogether, which was exactly the opposite direction that we needed to move
2002
Human service providers from across the county responded to cuts to human services announced by Exec Sims in Dec of 2001 by joining together to form the King County Alliance for Human Services. The Alliance organized an earned media campaign to restore the 50% cuts slated for 2003
Read more here: The Stranger - In the Hall, Erica C. Barnett
2003
$15m total annual KC funds (General Fund) invested in Community Health & Human Services
2004
Executive appoints Task Force on Regional Human Services to determine if there is enough county funding for human services. Their report shows more funds are needed, which reiterated what human service providers have been stating
2005
Executive appoints Healthy Families and Communities Task Force to determine how much is needed and possible revenue sources.
Nov 2005
First new revenue source, Veterans & Human Services levy (VSHL), adds $14m/yr in 2006-2011
2006
$40m local funds (GF & dedicated levy)
2007
Cuts in GF due to budget structure come to pass, all hs funding now at $32m/yr
Nov 2007
Second new revenue source, Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) tax passes, adds $50m/yr in 2008-2016
2008
additional cuts in GF, at $76m/yr (GF & dedicated sources)
2009
final cuts in GF, now at about $1m/ yr or less. Total at $68m/yr (GF & dedicated sources)
2011
voters renew VSHSL
2015
$72m/yr (GF & dedicated sources)
2015
Third new revenue source, Best Starts for Kids levy, passes, adds $66m/yr in 2016-2021
2016
$138m (GF & dedicated sources)
2016
King County Council renews MIDD, $67m/yr in 2017-2025
2017
$142m (GF & dedicated sources)
2017
69% of voters approve expansion to Veterans, Seniors, & Human Services levy to begin in 2018
2018
$186m total annual hs funding (GF & dedicated sources)
2018
The Alliance and key allies win increased allocation for affordable housing and services for homeless youth from county lodging tax by $165m for a total of $661 million over 20 years
2019
The Alliance creates six Advocacy Teams to focus on clusters of cities across the county and unincorporated King County in order to advocate for increasing local investments in community health and human services to help residents across the county reach their full potential
2022
$342m (GF & dedicated sources)
2023
Over 71% of King County voters renew VSHSL