The final version of the adopted budget includes many of the city-preferred approaches to the differences between the Senate and the House, including several new investments in programs to address AWC priorities in housing, mental health, and opioid treatment and prevention.
The supplemental operating budget uses the unanticipated increased revenues for additional investments in education funding, services for mental health, safety net for individuals needing social services, and to implement a state one-time property tax reduction. Additional funding is also allocated to implement the Supreme Court’s view on the timing of implementation of teacher salary increases by September 2018 to fully implement their McCleary decision.
Below is a listing of items in the budget that AWC has been following.
State-shared revenues
The adopted budget includes full funding levels for revenues shared with cities, including liquor profits and taxes. Additionally, marijuana revenues of $18 million for disbursement to certain cities and counties that authorize the sale of marijuana. The intent of the Legislature is to carry the increased appropriation of $30 million into future biennia. Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) mitigation is fully funded for the biennium at $20.6 million.
Mental health
HB 2892 provides $1 million to fund at least eight grants per fiscal year that supports increased mental health field response capabilities or programs that reduces incarceration time. $800,000 will create a criminal justice diversion center in Snohomish County. $25.3 m in funding is provided for building community capacity, $46.4 m to cover fines from the federal case known as Trueblood, $1.7 m for assisted outpatient treatment, $69.3 m for BHO to provide community enhancements, and $15.5 m to fully fund the Institute of Mental Disease (IMD) waiver.
Housing and homelessness
The budget provides funding for implementation of expanded eligibility for the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program. Additionally, the document recording fee is increased permanently to $62 in E2SHB 1570, providing $54 million annually to support local homeless housing programs and plans.
Opioid treatment and prevention
The budget includes $14.4 m for implementation of HB 1427, to implement strategies to prevention and treatment of opioid use disorders. This includes four new hub and spoke networks to provide capacity, a statewide prescription take-back program, and distribution of opioid overdose reversal medication.
Pensions
PERS 1/TRS 1 retirees COLA provides a one-time 1.5 percent benefit increase with an annual benefit increase maximum of $750. State and local contribution rates would increase.
Basic Law Enforcement Academy
Funding is provided for six BLEA classes in FY 2018 with an additional class in FY 2019. The agency is allowed to provide an additional class in FY 2018 that is 100 percent funded by local agencies. Funding is also provided for an additional equivalency academy class in each fiscal year.
More details about the conference budget proposal is available on AWC’s budget summary chart and through the state’s budget page.