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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-06-minutes-joint-meeting-with-lincoln-&-grant-county-Open Record Public Meeting Washington State Association of Counties WSAC — Regional / Local Legislative Briefing with Lincoln and Kittitas Counties and State Legislators for the 12th and 13th Districts November 6, 2019 1:00 P.M. In attendance: Grant County: Tom Taylor, Chair Cindy Carter, Vice -Chair Richard Stevens, Member Lincoln County: Mark Stedman Rob Coffinan Kittitas County: Cory Wright Brett Wachsmith Laura Osiadacz Judy Warnick, Senator Tom Dent, Representative Alex Ybarra, Representative Suzi Fode, Director, New Hope Paul Jewel, WSAC 1:00 p.m. Commissioners from Grant, Lincoln, and Kittitas Counties, WSAC staff, and 12th and 13th District Legislators met to discuss the following 2020 Legislative Session priorities: 1. Trial Court Public Defense 2. Fish Passage Barrier Removal 3. Behavioral Health 4. New Unfunded Mandates WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION o/ COUNTIES Counties are responsible for providing essential services to every resident in the State of Washington. Yet, in a time of economic prosperity and population growth, counties are faced with budget shortfalls that are leaving critical investments in criminal justice, public health, and infrastructure at risk. Enacting the Washington State Association of Counties'2020 legislative priorities will provide needed relief to county budgets and invest in the services counties provide to all Washingtonians. "Given the existing low level of state funding and the increased costs identified to date, the State should increase the funding levels to cities and counties for public defense." Funding for Trial Court Public Defense Access to a defense attorney in criminal matters is a fundamental constitutional right that the Legislature passed on to counties. Yet, the state funds less than 4% of the cost for these services. Counties currently spend approximately $156 million annually with the state providing only $6 million. For equal access to justice, the Legislature must fund the full cost of trial court public defense services. ��. Fish Passage Barrier Removal Counties support legislation that will provide adequate funding to remove fish barriers for all jurisdictions across the state, including a long-term commitment to remove priority fish barriers - not just respond to the state's obligations under the culverts decision. The Legislature must provide funding to remove fish barriers at the state and local level as well as the necessary tools to meet the 2030 mandate. Behavioral Health Washington State is changing how it pays for delivery of physical health services, mental health services and substance use disorder services, choosing to treat the whole person - mind and body - to more effectively achieve better health outcomes and lower costs. While the Legislature has taken significant steps to strengthen and improve the current behavioral health system, counties, as partners in delivery of these services, continue to be concerned about gaps in services and adequate funding to support county responsibilities. As the state proceeds with behavioral health integration, the Legislature must fund a complete behavioral health system and ensure that counties receive the funds necessary to provide quality care.,3_ — Ensure Washington State provides an adequately funded comprehensive behavioral health system. Oppose New Unfunded Mandates The Legislature has continued to shift costs through policy changes without addressing the underlying funding problems that face county budgets. Counties have been diverting funds from road maintenance, reducing investments in infrastructure, and leaving critical public safety positions unfilled to meet the obligations the state keeps piling on. Counties believe that the legislature must comply with state law (RCW 43.135.060) that PROHIBITS the passage of any new programs or increasing services levels to existing programs unless "fully reimbursed by the state for the costs". Counties oppose any legislation that will increase costs for local government without funding provided by the state. 0 WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION o/ COUNTIES Fish -Barriers: A Comprehensive Approach In 2001, twenty-one Washington State Tribes filed suit in Federal District Court seeking to compel the State of Washington to repair or replace culverts that acted as barriers to fish migration. Dissatisfied with the state's progress, the tribes sought and won a permanent injunction in 2013 that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018, forcing the state to replace all offending culverts under state-owned roads in the case -area by 2030. This case area includes an estimated 800 state-owned barriers within fourteen counties surrounding Puget Sound.The state has estimated costs in excess of $2 billion to address the 800+ barriers under state roads. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) inventory lists over 3,200 known county -owned fish barriers in the case area, with an estimated potential for 10,000 county owned barriers statewide. The cost to replace county -owned barriers in the 14 -county case area is currently estimated at $7.7 billion. No counties posses resources to address a problem of this magnitude. On average, counties can afford to upgrade 2-4 barriers per year. What Counties Need: Counties support a coordinated approach to fish passage barrier removal. Now is the time to develop a coordinated program that removes state, local, and private barriers that completely open habitat throughout a watershed. • Adequate funding and a long-term commitment from the state to remove county - owned fish barriers; • A reduction of elimination of project match requirements; • Funding for the monitoring & maintenance of passable culverts, continued efforts to identify & inventory new barriers; • Streamlining project permitting; and • Tools that assist in speeding up project delivery. WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION What is an 'Unfunded Mandate"? Counties play anessential role in keeping Washington residents safe and secure bypreserving public health and vveU'being. protecting public safety, and safeguarding the civil and criminal justice system. Washington's counties are committed to working with the Legislature tofind a way to serve all the residents of the state. County revenues are simply not keeping pace with the cost ofnormal inflation and population growth. |n comparison with cities and the state, county revenue growth lags significantly behind. The state continues topass legislation that increases costs for counties, UNFUNKU����KU�������� DED refuses toadequately fund the constitutiunaUyand statutorily required countyservices.andaUovvsstateagenciestoadnptcosL|yregu|ations.or MANDATE avoid paying their fair share. REFORM [munties, asagents ofWashington state, are tasked with implementing laws and court mandates onbehalf ofthe state ofWashington. Therefore, the Legislature must ensure that counties have adequate resources to perform these constitutional and statutory responsibilities. c� vVas�.'���o..��a�e �t Examples ofunfunded mandates from the Legislature are: Trial Court Public Defense . Election Costs Building and Servicing Ballot Drop Boxes . Court Costs Public Health Services ^ Public Safety Regulations r.� The Washington State Legislature has continued toshift costs through policy changes without addressing the underlying funding problems that - face county budgets. However, hisnot only the Legislature that shifts costs down tocounties. Other state agencies and the courts changing rules, regulations and internal policies affect county budget's bottom line.