King County -
King County Interim Executive Kurt Triplett has proposed a 2010 budget that would slash 367 jobs, curb general fund support for human services and close nearly 40 parks.
Layoff notices went out to 145 employees on Monday. Triplett's proposal says the rest of the proposed job cuts would come from openings that have been left unfilled. The county is facing a $56 million deficit in the 2010 general fund. The general fund, or operating fund, pays for the day-to-day operation of county government.
The proposed $621 million general fund budget for 2010 is $26 million less than that same budget in 2009. Criminal justice services would be least affected, with just a 1 percent cut proposed there.
Human services would be some of the hardest hit by the major budget cuts. The Coalition of Sexual Assault Domestic Violence is made up of seven organizations: King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Eastside Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse Women's Network, YWCA, Refugee Women's Alliance, Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress and the Children's Response Center.
According to the coalition, Triplett's proposed budget would reduce funding by a whopping 80% percent, following county cuts in funding in 2009.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Dawn Walker asked the county council Monday to consider the experience of families like her own when making this funding decision.
"Approximately five years ago, my 5-year old daughter, Jessi, was assaulted by a relative of our neighbors. He lured her into the house, held her down and sexually assaulted her. We called the police, who took Jessi to Harborview.
The next day, the healing process began. You see, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center had a legal advocate, Demarie, meet us at the Regional Justice Center and from there they helped us through the entire ordeal. The legal process was horrible but we didn't have to deal with it alone, Demarie was there for us.
In addition to legal advocacy, KCSARC provided us with counseling, parenting classes and all of the love and support that we needed to get through it. At a time of such great distress, we didn't have to worry about finding a qualified counselor. Their parenting classes taught us that it was not our fault that Jessi was assaulted. They showed us how to help her and what to expect as she grew older.
As a result, Jessi is a thriving 10-year old. She is a blessing to all people who meet her. She is outgoing and full of life. I can't even imagine what her life would have been like without KCSARC. Jessi is a very strong young lady . . . strong enough to speak out about her experience in the hope that KCSARC's funding won't be cut. It breaks Jessi's heart and mine to think about other 5-year old girls going through sexual assault without the essential services that KCSARC provides. Please don't let that happen."
Urging the county council to protect funding for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, Stacy Caves told her own story of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband:
"I was married to my abusive husband for nearly seven years; we literally had a Cinderella and Prince Charming wedding, all the way down to the glass slippers. Needless to say, that fairly tale was short lived. The abuse started shortly after my first son Skyler was born, everything from physical abuse to financial abuse to psychological abuse. You name it, we lived it. By the end of the marriage together we had three sons: Skyler who is now 10, Jayden now 6 and Nikolas 4.
Skyler was always Jeremy's favorite and he was always threatening take him. In 2004 he did just that by kidnapping him and taking him across state lines to Oregon. I was devastated; I was without Skyler for nine months. During this time his brother Nikolas was born and Skyler wasn't even here to meet his youngest brother.
During this horrible time, Eastside Domestic Violence Program (EDVP) was there for Jayden, Nikolas and I every inch of the way - everything from their emergency shelters to their hotel/motel voucher program and of course their continued support. In January of 2005 I was able to get into their program called My Friends Place (MFP) a transitional housing program. It is a program for women and their children who have substance abuse problems as well as been in abusive relationships. For years I had been abusing drugs to cope with all the pain. This program literally saved our lives.
Today ALL the boys and I are safe and together and are very, very happy. Without the services of Eastside Domestic Violence Program I really don't know where I would be today or if I would even be here to tell my story. This program has forever changed my life. This quarter, I am actually interning at My Friends Place shelter and it means the world to me to be able to be giving back to the program that has meant so much to my family. The boys are doing wonderful and growing like weeds, and as for me life only keeps getting better.
I can't imagine what my life would be like without the help EDVP. Please continue funding this program so that it does not have to turn away families like mine."
Mary Ellen Stone, executive director of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, urged the King County Council to restore the funding for domestic violence and sexual assault victims. "We understand these are tough budget times, but how can we tell young children who are sexually assaulted that we will not help them? For about $1 million, we can ensure that battered or sexually assaulted women or children receive the help they desperately need."
The county council plans five public hearings and plans to adopt a budget on Nov. 23.
Layoff notices went out to 145 employees on Monday. Triplett's proposal says the rest of the proposed job cuts would come from openings that have been left unfilled. The county is facing a $56 million deficit in the 2010 general fund. The general fund, or operating fund, pays for the day-to-day operation of county government.
The proposed $621 million general fund budget for 2010 is $26 million less than that same budget in 2009. Criminal justice services would be least affected, with just a 1 percent cut proposed there.
Human services would be some of the hardest hit by the major budget cuts. The Coalition of Sexual Assault Domestic Violence is made up of seven organizations: King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Eastside Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse Women's Network, YWCA, Refugee Women's Alliance, Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress and the Children's Response Center.
According to the coalition, Triplett's proposed budget would reduce funding by a whopping 80% percent, following county cuts in funding in 2009.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Dawn Walker asked the county council Monday to consider the experience of families like her own when making this funding decision.
"Approximately five years ago, my 5-year old daughter, Jessi, was assaulted by a relative of our neighbors. He lured her into the house, held her down and sexually assaulted her. We called the police, who took Jessi to Harborview.
The next day, the healing process began. You see, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center had a legal advocate, Demarie, meet us at the Regional Justice Center and from there they helped us through the entire ordeal. The legal process was horrible but we didn't have to deal with it alone, Demarie was there for us.
In addition to legal advocacy, KCSARC provided us with counseling, parenting classes and all of the love and support that we needed to get through it. At a time of such great distress, we didn't have to worry about finding a qualified counselor. Their parenting classes taught us that it was not our fault that Jessi was assaulted. They showed us how to help her and what to expect as she grew older.
As a result, Jessi is a thriving 10-year old. She is a blessing to all people who meet her. She is outgoing and full of life. I can't even imagine what her life would have been like without KCSARC. Jessi is a very strong young lady . . . strong enough to speak out about her experience in the hope that KCSARC's funding won't be cut. It breaks Jessi's heart and mine to think about other 5-year old girls going through sexual assault without the essential services that KCSARC provides. Please don't let that happen."
Urging the county council to protect funding for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, Stacy Caves told her own story of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband:
"I was married to my abusive husband for nearly seven years; we literally had a Cinderella and Prince Charming wedding, all the way down to the glass slippers. Needless to say, that fairly tale was short lived. The abuse started shortly after my first son Skyler was born, everything from physical abuse to financial abuse to psychological abuse. You name it, we lived it. By the end of the marriage together we had three sons: Skyler who is now 10, Jayden now 6 and Nikolas 4.
Skyler was always Jeremy's favorite and he was always threatening take him. In 2004 he did just that by kidnapping him and taking him across state lines to Oregon. I was devastated; I was without Skyler for nine months. During this time his brother Nikolas was born and Skyler wasn't even here to meet his youngest brother.
During this horrible time, Eastside Domestic Violence Program (EDVP) was there for Jayden, Nikolas and I every inch of the way - everything from their emergency shelters to their hotel/motel voucher program and of course their continued support. In January of 2005 I was able to get into their program called My Friends Place (MFP) a transitional housing program. It is a program for women and their children who have substance abuse problems as well as been in abusive relationships. For years I had been abusing drugs to cope with all the pain. This program literally saved our lives.
Today ALL the boys and I are safe and together and are very, very happy. Without the services of Eastside Domestic Violence Program I really don't know where I would be today or if I would even be here to tell my story. This program has forever changed my life. This quarter, I am actually interning at My Friends Place shelter and it means the world to me to be able to be giving back to the program that has meant so much to my family. The boys are doing wonderful and growing like weeds, and as for me life only keeps getting better.
I can't imagine what my life would be like without the help EDVP. Please continue funding this program so that it does not have to turn away families like mine."
Mary Ellen Stone, executive director of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, urged the King County Council to restore the funding for domestic violence and sexual assault victims. "We understand these are tough budget times, but how can we tell young children who are sexually assaulted that we will not help them? For about $1 million, we can ensure that battered or sexually assaulted women or children receive the help they desperately need."
The county council plans five public hearings and plans to adopt a budget on Nov. 23.
