WHEREAS, the county is responsible for providing regional public health services to the 1.8 million citizens of King County including food service and drinking water inspections, emergency medical services, community health clinics, vaccine distribution, communicable disease control, and emergency preparedness planning.
WHEREAS, over the past decade support for these services (including significant contributions from the county’s general fund, city’s general fund, state funds, and a variety of federal sources) has been eliminated, reduced or limited, and such reductions or limitations on funding for public health services are likely to continue in the future.
WHEREAS, the cost of providing public health services is increasing and the scope of public health services provided is increasing with new mandates and new communicable disease risks.
WHEREAS, the King County Council, in the 2005 Budget Ordinance 15083 Proviso 14-P3 and 79-P1, mandated that the Office of Management and Budget in collaboration with the Department of Public Health and Staff of the Council and Board of Health shall submit to the Board of Health and the Council for their review and approval, a detailed work plan for an operational master plan for public health to guide the development of a sustainable operational and financing model for the provision of regional public health services.
WHEREAS, this plan shall have two phases. Phase I, to be reviewed and approved by the Board of Health and Council by motion, shall provide a policy framework for meeting the county’s public health responsibilities and recommend the adoption of comprehensive public health policies to guide future budgetary and operation strategies developed in Phase II of the plan. Phase II, to be approved by the Council by motion with input from the Board of Health, shall (1) review the department’s functions and operations; (2) evaluate service delivery alternatives for meeting the public health needs of the community as effectively and efficiently as possible; and (3) develop recommended implementations and funding strategies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE KING COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH approves the Workplan for the Public Health Operational Master Plan (PH OMP) in King County.
