Council to vote on tax levy for fingerprint database

Saturday, July 8, 2006

By BRAD WONG
P-I REPORTER

The King County Council is scheduled to vote Monday on whether to approve language for a tax levy that could raise $102.4 million to continue a fingerprint database for the region's police departments.

If approved, the ordinance could go before county voters Sept. 19. The money would support a database that the King County Sheriff's Office operates and investigators say helps solve crimes.

It stores fingerprints from convicted and suspected criminals and ones collected at crime scenes. Officers and deputies can then access it for matches of people who are under investigation.

But continuing the system would require county property owners to pay 5.33 cents for each $1,000 of assessed value, according to one plan under consideration. That would mean the owner of a $400,000 house would pay $21.32 during the levy's first year.

Another version under consideration calls for the owner of a $400,000 house to pay $22.72 in the first year, given a levy rate of 5.68 cents for each $1,000 of assessed value.

Over the tax levy's proposed six years, though, rates would drop slightly because home values are expected to increase.

But keep in mind: The council is working with draft language and could change the details Monday, when they will listen to public comments about the topic.

The push for money is occurring because the last levy to support the system expired in December 2005.

Of the $102.4 million that could be raised over six years, about $90.5 million would go to support current database operations.

The additional amount would support new computer technology, additional photographers and other staff members.

County Councilman Bob Ferguson said there was discussion to make the levy permanent. But a six-year time limit is more likely to be considered by the council.

"It lets the voters decide whether they want to tax themselves for this project," he said.

Deputy Rodney Chinnick, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, said the loss of the program would hamper investigators' ability to solve crimes, including home burglaries and car thefts.

"These types of crimes are important to a large number of citizens," he said.

But Bob Hegamin, a 79-year-old who owns a house in Seattle, questions the use of a tax levy.

"Of course, we need a fingerprint agency," he said. "But why depend on the people to fund it, when the basic funding should come from the budget?"

MEETING DETAILS

The King County Council meeting about funding a fingerprint identification system will take place Monday at 1:30 p.m. on the 10th floor of the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave., Seattle. There will be a public comment period.

P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.

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