Councilmember Upthegrove to write next County Budget

January 20, 2016

Summary

“We will have to make some tough choices but I am confident that we will find creative ways to keep the diverse communities of King County safe and healthy.”

Story

In only his first term as a member of the King County Council, Dave Upthegrove was unanimously selected to chair the Council’s Budget and Financial Management (Budget) committee.

“King County protects our region’s health and safety, keeps Metro buses running and serves as the local government for the rural parts of the county,” Upthegrove said. “I will focus on writing a balanced budget that delivers core services, especially public health and human services, efficiently and effectively.”

As Budget chair, it is Upthegrove’s responsibility to find fiscally responsible ways for the County to provide transit, public safety, and human services to diverse communities all over King County. Upthegrove will spend the next several months preparing to write the two-year budget for 2017-2019 which will total over $9 billion in operating and capital expenditures.

“Delivering a balanced budget won’t be easy as the County’s general fund is already facing a significant shortfall,” said Upthegrove. “We will have to make some tough choices but I am confident that we will find creative ways to keep the diverse communities of King County safe and healthy.”

The King County Budget is responsible for maintaining the agencies and departments that are part of the 13th largest county in the United States. King County has more than two million residents. The economic engine for Washington state, King County is the home to internationally-recognized companies such Boeing, Weyerhaeuser, Microsoft, and Amazon.