Veterans' levy: "We thank voters for continuing to make this investment"

King County Proposition 1, the Veterans and Human Services Levy, is passing with 68.97% of the vote as of Friday afternoon, August 19, 2011.

As it only needs a simple majority to pass, 50% plus one vote, it is being hailed as a winner.

Bob Ferguson

The levy was originally sponsored in 2005 by County Councilmember Bob Ferguson (representing north King County, including Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore) as a way to provide dedicated funding for human services and for the emerging issue of providing support for veterans.

Ferguson deliberately set the levy to be reconsidered after six years.

“I specifically included a sunset provision as part of the Veterans and Human Services Levy to promote accountability to King County voters on how their tax dollars are being used.

 "My father used to tell me that ‘a deadline focuses the mind,’ and the six-year deadline of having to go back before the voters makes sure we focus on getting results out of Levy investments,” said Ferguson.

“The overwhelming voter support to renew the Levy is the direct result of its success in improving the lives of veterans, their families, and others in need.”

Although no one could be found to write a statement against the levy, and it had bipartisan sponsorship from Democrat Ferguson and Republican Councilmember Reagan Dunn, veterans' organizations were still relieved at the strong voter support for the levy.

Rick Friedhoff, Executive Director of the Compass Housing Alliance, which operates the Compass Veterans' Center in Shoreline, said,

"We are thrilled that voters showed such strong support for the Vets and Human Services Levy.  This is great news for the programs of Compass Housing Alliance and for other agencies that provide similar services. 

"We want to thank everyone who worked hard to disseminate information and make sure that voters knew how important this is for King County. 

"We thank voters for continuing to make this investment in housing, services, and programs that help our neighbors in need."