King County executive proposes temporary funding fix to keep public health clinics open
Centers offering a safety net for care to 80,000 patients are at risk of closing without additional funding.
Author: Erica Zucco
Published: 6:45 PM PDT September 19, 2024
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SEATTLE — King County public health clinics offering care to around 80,000 patients could be in danger of closing if there isn’t a funding fix.
On Thursday, county Executive Dow Constantine announced a proposal that would use a modified county hospital tax authority to temporarily cover the costs, though a long-term solution would still be needed. Under the proposal, an 8.5 cent tax primarily covering costs for Harborview Medical Center would also put money toward the clinics.
“Primary care, dental care, behavioral health care, prenatal care; if we have to close these clinics, they will be without an option,” Constantine said. “Our commitment, that every person is able to thrive, part of that is ensuring everyone has a healthy start in life and they can have healthcare to be able to really live successfully here in King County.”
According to the county, the state Legislature cut its funding for public health clinic services in the early 2000s, along with capping local property tax increases. This past state legislative session session, an effort to increase that cap failed, but lawmakers did modify King County’s hospital property tax authority. The change gives the county the ability to cover temporary funding for clinics within the same funding stream that will maintain operations, projects and maintenance at Harborview Medical Center.
“This tax source is the one we use to fund operation and the expansion of Harborview hospital, and so that ultimately is the primary purpose,” Constantine said. “The small portion, 2.8 cents worth, will keep public health clinics going while we continue our conversation with the legislature about sustainable, long term funding for these services.”
The 8.5 cent tax would raise $74.6 million for the 2025 budget, and would cost an $850,000 median home about $72 a year, according to the county. Constantine pointed out Thursday that it comes as two other levies, totaling around 7 cents, expire. Roughly 2 cents of the tax will pay for major infrastructure improvements at Harborview, while 2.8 cents will go toward clinics and the remainder will cover Harborview operations and reserves.
Constantine will include the full proposal in his 2025 budget, which will be submitted to King County Council on September 23.
Karen Estevenin is the executive director with PROTEC17, which represents some of the workers in public health clinics who would be impacted.
“Just a few years ago, COVID showed vividly why we need a strong system and what can go wrong when systems falter or don’t have funding or support,” Estevenin said. “They treat anyone who comes through the door, two thirds of patients are BIPOC, they provide huge amount of services to people who are uninsured, and we were facing closure of all of these clinics.”
Estevenin said she hasn’t had a chance to speak with membership about this development, but that many have been waiting for solutions.
“We had gotten notification people could be laid off as early as January 2025 if we did not see a pathway to secured funding,” Estevenin said.
She says membership is watching to see what happens with this proposal and with the work toward a more permanent solution.
Executive Constantine will include the full proposal in his 2025 budget, which will be submitted to King County Council on September 23.