Dunn on DCHS contract legislation: Reforms are critical to protect taxpayer dollars

September 16, 2025

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn issued the following statement Tuesday after Council held its first hearing on his legislation to reform oversight and management of Department of Community and Human Services contracts:

“Today, the Council took a first step forward in providing major reform to the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) grant processes to ensure taxpayer dollars are not subjected to fraud and waste in the future. These reforms are as critical now as they were when I originally called for the DCHS audit years ago — because it’s our obligation to constituents, especially the most vulnerable among us, to protect finite taxpayer dollars and prioritize responsible stewardship.”

Dunn’s proposal, which comes in the wake of an audit that found potential fraud and payments to unauthorized contractors in some DCHS grant contracts, seeks to help protect taxpayer dollars, ensure community programs are run responsibly, and make sure concerns about fraud or misuse are taken seriously and acted on quickly.

The legislation would:

• Require the County to review contractors every year to make sure money is being used as intended
• Ensure in-person check-ins at least once every three years with every organization receiving County funds
• Call for immediate site visits if there are reports of fraud, waste, or abuse
• Require the department to report back to the Council by March 2026 so the public can see progress
• Put best practices into law, so oversight is consistent and long-term

A full vote is expected at next week’s council meeting on September 23, 2025.