Black Diamond contributes funds to help keep Auburn Health Clinic open

Auburn City Hall that he and Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus have put together public and private partnerships that will contribute in total between $550,000 and $700,000 to help maintain services at the Auburn clinic through the 2015-16 biennium

By K. Jason and Kelli Krafsky • November 12, 2014 3:37 pm

by ROBERT WHALE

News Reporter

For the 11,000 people every year from Auburn to Black Diamond who rely on the services King County’s Public Health Center in Auburn offers, the news could hardly have been better.

The clinic will stay open.

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced last week in a news conference at Auburn City Hall that he and Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus have put together public and private partnerships that will contribute in total between $550,000 and $700,000 to help maintain services at the Auburn clinic through the 2015-16 biennium.

“This partnership brings together cities, tribal government, nonprofits and business – united in a shared commitment to the health and prosperity of the people who live here,” Constantine said. “I’m proud of the innovative local solutions we’ve crafted to help maintain important health services, but we must ultimately develop a sustainable funding source for Public Health that our state has lacked for many years.”

Constantine also said that he is working with the King County Council to find the additional funds needed to fully maintain services for the next two years while efforts continue to find a long-term solution.

“The Auburn clinic is going to stay open as a result of a number of partnerships and investments from a variety of groups, including King County,” said Michael Hursh, the city’s director of administration. “Auburn led in a lot of the fundraising efforts to preserve services for the next two years, and now we’re looking at partnering with King County on funding sources going forward for the whole public health system.”

Given that financial support from the state and federal governments has been on the decline over the last few years, King County announced earlier this year that it would close the clinic and others by the end of 2014.

As of Nov. 5, the funding partners include the cities of Auburn, Enumclaw, Algona and Pacific:

• The city of Auburn: $220,000

• The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe: $150,000

• Group Health: $100,000

• Orion Industries: $40,000

• The city of Algona: $10,000

• The city of Pacific: $10,000

• The city of Enumclaw: $10,000

• The Valley Regional Fire Authority: $10,000

Some of the numbers could change, city officials say.

The Black Diamond city council passed a resolution supporting the clinic and unanimously passed a motion Nov. 6 to contribute $500 from 2014 budget and $500 from the 2015 budget.

“This is putting money where our mouth is,” Councilwoman Janie Edelman said at the meeting. “It’s not very much, but it shows we do plan to do whatever we can to keep this clinic open.”

Public health in King County has not had a sustainable funding source since 2000 when the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax was eliminated.

The public health staff in Auburn primarily provides services designed to help young mothers, including maternity services, nutrition programs, and family planning.

“I am humbled, but not surprised, by what has been accomplished by the South (King) County cities, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the Auburn School District, Valley Regional Fire Authority, health care agencies and employees, and private industry working in partnership with King County to maintain the services for our region’s most vulnerable people,” Backus said. “As often happens in Auburn, when a need arises and something monumental needs to happen, we step up to the challenge and get it done.”

“When community leaders first came to council chambers to discuss the need to keep the Auburn Public Health Clinic open, I was optimistic it could happen,” said King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer. “By working together and developing unique funding partnerships, we are very close to providing critical services to those who need it most in our community.”

County Councilman Reagan Dunn, who voiced support for the clinic last month, said he was grateful that Constantine “continues to work diligently with area partners in putting together funding commitments that will provide a portion of the needed funds to keep the clinic and the satellite offices open.”

“I’m going to work closely with my colleagues on the County Council to find the additional funding needed during the Council’s budget process to ensure that this health center will remain open,” Dunn said.

 

– Reporter Eric Mandel contributed to this story.