HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2017-001WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ,•1 GENDA BILL NO. 2017 -035 -
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
Agenda Date
Assi ned to:
Council as Health
Originator:
Health
1218116
Fa D
1110117
Board
Division
Head:
JAN 0 3 2016
Dept. Head:
RD
12 19116
Prosecutor:
�PA
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WHIT COUNTY
COUNCIL
Purchasing /Budget:
Executive: 'Ch
TITLE OF D
Support of WA State Funding for Core Public Health Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Discussion Form
Resolution: Washington State Legislature Support o f Funding or Core Public Health Services
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( ) Yes ( X) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( X) NO
Requested Date:
S UMMA R Y S TA TEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be
clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
The purpose of the proposed resolution is to support State funding for Core Public Health Services.
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COMMITTEE ACTION.-
COUNCIL ACTION.•
1/10/2017: Not Discussed. Will be discussed in the
1/10/2017: Approved 6 -0, Sidhu absent, Res. 2017 -001
evening meeting
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Related County Contract #:
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Res. 2017 -001
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available, for viewing and printing on
the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council. �I
PROPOSED BY: Health
INTRODUCED:
RESOLUTION No. 2017 -001
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE SUPPORT OF
FUNDING FOR CORE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
WHEREAS, the public health system in Washington provides the foundation for the larger health
care framework, working to prevent illness and disease while supporting the work of community
partners; and
WHEREAS, tracking, responding to, and preventing costly food and water contamination and
disease outbreaks is essential to protecting the public's health; and
WHEREAS, state and local public health officials, together with local leaders, have identified an
agreed -upon set of core public health services that should be available for every Washingtonian; and
WHEREAS, after a century of increasing life expectancies, today these gains are threatened by new and
more complex diseases, continued tobacco use and preventable chronic diseases, putting today's
children at risk of becoming the first generation to have shorter life expectancies than their parents; and
WHEREAS, the public's well -being is also threatened by public health's inability to meet its basic
responsibility to provide these core services due to changes in its funding structure, complex and new
diseases, and growing populations; and
WHEREAS, the motor vehicle excise tax was repealed in 2000, leaving the public health system
without an adequate and sustainable funding source; and
WHEREAS, Washington state's population has grown by more than one million residents since 2000,
and is expected to grow by another two million residents by 2025; and
WHEREAS, Washington state spends less on public health protection ($38.08 per person) than other
states like Idaho ($54.35 per person) and Wyoming ($89.75 per person); and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Health Department resources have been stretched over the last several
years to appropriately respond to more than 30 disease outbreaks of norovirus, influenza, E.coli,
measles, and varicella.
WHEREAS, Whatcom County ranks 2nd highest in the state for the demand for opiate addiction
treatment, but lacks the resources needed to make short and long term system improvement to help
stem the tide of the opiate epidemic in our community.
WHEREAS, over the last four years, state and local public health leaders have developed a plan to
modernize the state's public health system, ensuring core services are available everywhere and
designating others that can be effectively and efficiently shared between health departments; and
WHEREAS, without securing ongoing, stable, and dedicated funding for core public health
services, our communities are left unprepared for emergencies like the SR 530 Slide, and
vulnerable to the spread of communicable diseases like Zika and whooping cough; and
WHEREAS, rebuilding and refocusing our public health services means we can better
monitor and coordinate emergency responses — keeping our families and communities safe,
reducing costs for taxpayers, and protecting our local economy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Whatcom County Board of Health calls on the
Washington state legislature to recognize that public health is essential and provide the
critical down - payment to support core services in all communities and allow public health to
rebuild its statewide system with added efficiency.
APPROVED this 10th day of January, 2017.
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Dana 6row;n 0avi-s clerk of-the Council
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Karen Fr es, Ci4il De uty Prosecutor
WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH BOARD
W HATCOM C U WA 50INGTON
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Barr B chanan, Council Chair
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