King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Flood Control District Chairperson Julia Patterson today joined city mayors in thanking the state Legislature and Gov. Chris Gregoire for passage of EHB 1969, which protects critical funding for flood risk reduction efforts.
Gregoire signed the bill during a ceremony today in Olympia.
“We worked together as a region to preserve this important tool that will protect people and businesses throughout King County from floods,” Constantine said. “I am pleased to see the overwhelming support in the state Legislature for this bill, and I thank Gov. Gregoire for signing it today.”
Peterson added: “Their actions preserve $72 million in critical funding that allows the Flood Control District to continue maintaining and improving flood protection facilities, safeguarding our residents, their property and the state’s economy.”
Officials said falling housing prices and a state cap on property taxes were threatening the district’s ability to collect taxes for much-needed flood risk reduction projects.
The bill exempts the district from the property rate tax cap by protecting up to 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for countywide flood districts (King County’s district currently collects 11 cents per $1,000). As a result, the district will be able to continue to collect revenue in 2012-13 and won’t have to stop or delay necessary flood-protection projects. It will also enable the district to leverage approximately $10-15 million in additional federal funds.
Mayors from many cities made trips to Olympia to testify on behalf of the bill.
“We appreciate the efforts of our governor to secure the future of the King County Flood Control District and provide critical funding for essential projects,” said Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis (pictured left).
The bill allows for funding for Green River levee projects, including an upgrade to the Boeing Levee, the Hawley Road Levee, and the Reddington Levee. The work will occur on the 19-mile stretch of the Green River system that flows through South King County and adjoins one-eighth of the entire gross domestic product of Washington state, and is home to many residents.
