WHEREAS, funding for public health services was traditionally negotiated each year from cities and counties; and

WHEREAS, this funding source was unstable and often inadequate to provide effective public health services for our citizens; and

WHEREAS, in 1993 Washington State committed to provide stable funding for public health services through motor vehicle excise taxes (MVET); and

WHEREAS, funds from the MVET support much of the infrastructure of public health in the state; and

WHEREAS, the drastic reduction of the MVET proposed in I-695 will gut many of the services expected and needed for the public health of our citizens; THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington State public Health Association publicly opposes Initiative 695; and FURTHER

BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington State Public Health Association support members and organizations working to defeat Initiative 695.

Adopted by the vote of the Membership assembled at the 1999 Annual Business meeting of the Association, October 4, 1999 in Spokane, Washington.