County Exec hopes to place ‘Starts for Kids’ levy on ballot

Published 1:00 pm Tuesday, May 5, 2015

In his State of the County Address on April 21, King County Executive Dow Constantine said that abuse, mental illness, juvenile delinquency and other problems that follow a person from child to adulthood can be prevented with the right tools and support early in life.

He outlined an initiative called Best Starts for Kids, which “will provide the resources needed to prevent negative outcomes in the community and put every child on a path toward lifelong success.”

It would focus on ending racial disparity in the juvenile justice system, preventing homelessness and treating mental illness and partnering with schools and law enforcement to prevent the ‘school to prison’ pipeline.

Investing in young children can in turn, save tax dollars, Constantine said. That’s the reasoning behind the six-year levy to raise $58,000,000 a year and cost the average homeowner about $56 annually.

The county’s annual general fund is more than $1 billion dollars. About 73 percent is spent on criminal justice.

The Best Starts For Kids levy now goes before the County Council. If it’s approved, it will be on the November ballot.