Your neighbors, and maybe even you, are relying on government services right now to keep you safe and provide much needed services, such as helping you put food on the table and keep a roof over head. Nearly all local human agencies rely on city and county government funding to leverage enough money to keep their doors open.

They are being asked to do more with less. You know this if you’ve had to stand in line at the food bank lately or get help with rent or a utility bill.

The funding cuts keep coming. The King County Executive is proposing an $11.4 million reduction in county human services funding that was already inadequate to meet the needs. And, now Tim Eyman wants you to pass Initiative 1033, freezing budgets and public services at current recession levels.

By reducing general fund revenues for cities, Initiative 1033 leaves local jurisdictions further strapped to provide vital public safety and human services, including funding for counseling, food banks, homelessness prevention, domestic violence assistance, and many other services that provide a safety net for residents during difficult times.

Cities and counties will not be able to keep up if Initiative 1033 passes. More sacrifices will be made in government budgets and you will feel it. As the recession has taught us, no one is immune to needing help. When the safety net erodes there will be nowhere to turn.

Initiative 1033 is short sighted, and its damage will be far reaching and long lasting. The Eastside Human Services Forum tracks funding trends and the impacts of regional budget decisions on East King County residents. It voted to oppose Initiative 1033 and its members urge you to do the same.

Join your local unions, school advocates, human services providers, Microsoft, and a growing number of business associations and chambers of commerce in voting NO on Initiative 1033. It will hurt too many people.

Debbie Lacy, Coordinator, Eastside Human Services Forum