OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson had pledged to spend $100 million to hire new police officers as part of his first budget, but it didn’t happen.
On Monday, Ferguson signed HB 2015 that creates a system to spend that amount on public safety but allows agencies and municipalities to use the funding on other programs, and create a sales tax to pay for it all.
Ferguson acknowledged the changes when signing his budget bills on Tuesday, telling KOMO News, “Is it perfect? Of course not. Is it exactly the way I would have written it? Of course not. But I believe it’s a significant step forward. It’ll make a big difference, and we have a lot of work to do.”
That work now involves setting up a grant program under the watchful eye of Monica Alexander of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Alexander said that will involve hiring others to handle grant applications. The bill doesn’t kick in until July 1.
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It’s really somewhat complicated,” said Alexander. “The first thing I have to do is hire a couple of staff people to help me with this because it is. It is a big deal.
She said the money could be used for other purposes besides hiring cops.
There are other areas in there,” she said. “because what people forget is that there’s a lot to public safety.
The bill’s language allows for the grant money to also go to:
Domestic violence services such as those provided by domestic violence programs, community advocates, and legal advocates.Staffing adequate public defenders to provide appropriate defense for individuals; diversion programs;Reentry work for inmates; Local government programs that have reasonable relationship to reducing the numbers of people interacting with the criminal justice system;Community placements for juveniles; and community outreach and assistance programs, alternative response programs, and mental health crisis response.
The bill also allows for new sales taxes to help fund it all.
When questioned about the bill, the Washington Association of Sheriff’s and Police Chiefs applauded the legislation while also stressing it was not the original proposal.
“While we recognize the positive elements of HB 2015, it is not “$100 million for law enforcement hiring”. In its final form and after many revisions, HB 2015 would actually allow the full $100 million of the state budget to be spent without hiring a single new officer. HB 2015 is, however, a significant step in the right direction, in light of the Legislature’s refusal to enact similar proposals in recent years,” wrote Steve Strachan, WASPC’s Executive Director.
Alexander said she was at the funding bill signing on Monday and immediately started receiving questions about the grants.
When reached by phone on Friday, Seattle City Council Public Safety Chair Bob Kettle said “I welcome the money, it’s very helpful and important, and will help jurisdictions across the state because public safety needs to be supported,” he said, “But we don’t have any definitive plans on how it could be used.”
