Municipal Criminal Justice Fund Distribution Program Municipal Criminal Justice Assistance Per RCW 82.14.330, the Legislature authorizes the distribution of funds from the Municipal Criminal Justice Assistance (MCJA) Account to local governments to support essential public safety functions and activities. A portion of the MCJA Account specifically funds: (1) Innovative Law Enforcement, (2) At-Risk or Abused Children, (3) Reducing Domestic Violence, and (4) Contracting for Law Enforcement Services. Even though Initiative 695 eliminated the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) as a major revenue source for the MCJA Account, the State General Fund continues to support these services. Without the revenue variances formerly experienced with MVET, local city’s program funding will remain consistent with the prior year’s funding level, and will increase slightly each year by the fiscal growth factor. For 2006 the fiscal growth factor was 2.82%. For 2007 it was 3.38%. In 2008 it is 5.53%, and for 2009 it will be 5.57%. Funding is transferred electronically to cities and towns each quarter through the Office of the State Treasurer. In 2003, a bill was passed eliminating the cities’ requirement to apply annually to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development for Areas (1) through (4) (above). Areas (1) through (3) have been combined under a new title, “Criminal Justice Special Programs,” with BARS code 336.06.26; area 4 remains under BARS code 336.06.25. Even though the quarterly payment is combined, the original intent was to support services in all three areas as follows: Area 1 (26%) – Area 2 (37%) and Area 3 (37%). Area 4 remains “Criminal Justice Contracting,” and will continue to be distributed based on previous application information, or as follows. Each year, cities newly qualifying for this funding must notify CTED in writing by November 30 for the upcoming calendar year. Cities have the responsibility to also notify CTED of any changes in their contractual arrangements for law enforcement services that would make them ineligible for this funding. Adjustments in the distribution formula to add or delete cities will only be made for the upcoming calendar year; no adjustments will be made retroactively. For more information, contact: Harvey Queen Program Manager Safe & Drug-Free Communities Unit Community Services Division Dept. of Community, Trade and Economic Development (360) 725-3034 Page updated: 4/30/2008