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WASHINGTON <br />STATE ASSOCIATION <br />What is an 'Unfunded Mandate"? <br />Counties play anessential role in keeping Washington <br />residents safe and secure bypreserving public <br />health and vveU'being. protecting public safety, and <br />safeguarding the civil and criminal justice system. <br />Washington's counties are committed to working with <br />the Legislature tofind a way to serve all the residents of <br />the state. <br />County revenues are simply not keeping pace with <br />the cost ofnormal inflation and population growth. |n <br />comparison with cities and the state, county revenue <br />growth lags significantly behind. <br />The state continues topass legislation that increases costs for counties, <br />UNFUNKU����KU�������� <br />DED <br />refuses toadequately fund the constitutiunaUyand statutorily required <br />countyservices.andaUovvsstateagenciestoadnptcosL|yregu|ations.or <br />MANDATE <br />avoid paying their fair share. <br />REFORM <br />[munties, asagents ofWashington state, are tasked with implementing <br />laws and court mandates onbehalf ofthe state ofWashington. Therefore, <br />the Legislature must ensure that counties have adequate resources to <br />perform these constitutional and statutory responsibilities. <br />c� vVas�.'���o..��a�e <br />�t <br />Examples ofunfunded mandates from the Legislature are: <br />Trial Court Public Defense . Election Costs <br />Building and Servicing Ballot Drop Boxes . Court Costs <br />Public Health Services ^ Public Safety Regulations <br />r.� <br />The Washington State Legislature has continued toshift costs through <br />policy changes without addressing the underlying funding problems that <br />- <br />face county budgets. However, hisnot only the Legislature that shifts <br />costs down tocounties. Other state agencies and the courts changing <br />rules, regulations and internal policies affect county budget's bottom line. <br />