INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

As provided in the Washington State Constitution, counties are the agents of the state on the local level and provide many services on behalf of the state, including Superior Court, elections, property tax assessment and collection, and health and human services. The state controls the taxing authority of counties and sometimes mandates what services will be provided by counties. I-601 prohibits the Legislature from passing unfunded mandates to local governments, including counties, but the practice continues.

Counties and cities should be local government partners but, all too often, their relationship is strained. This is due in part from counties and cities assuming unasked for and sometimes unintended roles and responsibilities, which lack sufficient state support. In the Growth Management Act, the Legislature recognizes that cities are providers of urban services and counties are regional governments within their county boundaries. While it is true statewide that counties are regional governments, neither the GMA, nor any other statute addresses the financing of regional services and the effect of annexations and incorporations on county tax bases. These issues are at the heart of the strain between counties and cities.

WSAC Policy: The state, counties and cities must collaborate to ensure a seamless, cost effective service delivery system for our joint constituents. With regard to mandates, counties will work with the state to secure funding for new or expanded mandates but they will resist the imposition of mandates that are not fully funded. With regard to the larger question of financing local government services, counties will continue to work at the state and local levels to better define the appropriate roles of state, county and city governments in both regulation and the provision of services.