The challenge of adopting a budget

The members of our Budget Leadership Team, Budget Chair Joe McDermott and Councilmembers Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague and Julia Patterson, met with KCTV’s Kimberly Hill after the unanimous adoption of the 2013 King County Budget to talk about the challenges of $7.6 billion spending plan that makes strategic investments in the County’s future while ensuring the current needs are met.

Unanimous approval for the 2013 County Budget

Today we unanimously adopted a 2013 King County Budget that continues to meet the needs of County residents while making strategic investments for King County’s future.

Our $7.6 billion budget includes a $685 million General Fund Budget, of which 73 percent is directed toward public safety and criminal justice programs. Even as the County continues to feel the effect of the Great Recession, the adopted budget will maintain the County’s AAA bond rating by not using the County’s cash reserves or tapping the rainy day fund.

We want to thank all of you who took the time to attend the public hearings or come to one of our Budget Committee meetings, who sent us an e-mail detailing your priorities for the County Budget, or who followed this seven-week process on Facebook, Twitter, King County Television, or on the Budget Web site. Your input always has a vital role in the final plan we put together and adopt.

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Budget Committee sends proposed budget to Council

After seven weeks of public hearings, deliberations, committee meetings and negotiations, we are set to adopt the 2013 King County Budget at our Tuesday, November 13 meeting.

The proposal put together by Budget Committee Chair Joe McDermott and the Council’s Budget Leadership Team—Kathy Lambert, Julia Patterson and Jane Hague—meets current County budget challenges and makes strategic investments that prepare the County for the future. Read more.

The proposed budget incorporates the goals of the King County Strategic Plan, maintains a commitment to equity and social justice, and continues the County’s efforts to provide services in an efficient and cost effective manner. Read more

We want to thank everyone who has been involved in this process, especially members of the public who came to speak to us about their budget priorities.

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Final week of work on 2013 County Budget

Our last public hearing on the 2013 King County Budget was Monday, November 5, with over 20 people testifying on the proposed budget plan. We are entering the final week of deliberations that began when County Executive Dow Constantine presented his proposed budget to the Council on September 24.

Over the last six weeks, the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee—which involves all nine members of the Council during budget deliberations—held over one dozen committee meetings.

The public has had four opportunities to discuss their priorities in meetings in Kent, Bellevue and two meetings in Council Chambers. Over 150 people spoke on a range of issues that will have an impact on the final budget proposal—the budget “Striker”—the Budget Committee’s recommended changes to the Executive Proposed Budget.

Budget and Fiscal Management Committee Chair Joe McDermott and the Budget Leadership team of Councilmembers Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague and Julia Patterson are scheduled to present their budget Striker during the Budget Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 7. Committee members are scheduled to act on the striker on November 8, with the Council scheduled to consider and take final action on the proposal at its November 13 Council meeting.

We encourage you to continue to follow this process by visiting our Budget Web site, watching the proceedings on King County TV, and sending us your comments through email, Facebook and Twitter (#KCBudget).

Budget Committee host last night meeting in Council Chambers

More than 125 people came to our three special night meetings to tell our Budget Committee their concerns and priorities for the 2013 King County Budget. In Kent on October 3, at Bellevue City Hall on October 10 and here at the County Courthouse on October 17, we heard from advocates for programs that are supported by King County.

We heard from those who aid low-income residents, supporters of programs that assist young people get out of gangs, public defenders who are responsible for assisting those who need the legal defense they’re entitled to and small farmers who were able to maintain their livelihood through programs supported by King County.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to come speak to the Budget Committee. We ask you to stay informed and involved through the 2013 Budget web site, Facebook and Twitter (#KCBudget)

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Budget Panels begin their work, Public meetings start

The panels that will guide the Council in its thorough review of the Executive Proposed Biennial Budget are underway: 

-- Council Vice Chair Jane Hague is leading theGeneral Government Panel’s review of General Fund budgets such as Assessments and Elections, and the County’s internal service funds like Facilities Management, Human Resources and Finance.

--Councilmember Kathy Lambert, who is the Vice Chair of the Budget committee, will direct thePublic Safety and Physical Environment Panel’s assessment of the Executive’s proposed budgets for the law, justice and public safety agencies that represent 73 percent of the general fund budget along with the departments of Community & Health Services, Transportation, Natural Resources and Parks and Public Health.

Along with the start of the panel review process, your opportunity to tell us about your priorities started October 3 when over 30 people testified at a special public hearing in Kent. Over the next two weeks there will be meetings at Bellevue’s City Hall and in Council Chambers where can find out more information about the 2013 Budget process.

Throughout the budget process, you can submit formal written testimony online, or by sending comments and questions via Facebook or Twitter (#KCBudget).

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Separately elected officials brief Council on challenges of Executive Proposed Budget

The separately elected officials responsible for the operation of the County’s criminal justice system and property assessments met with the Budget Committee Sept. 26 to discuss the impact of the 2013 Executive Proposed Budget.

County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, Sheriff Steve Strachan, Superior Court Presiding Judge Richard McDermott and District Court Presiding Judge Corinna Harn each spoke about the challenges of providing mandated criminal justice services within their limited budgets.

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara spoke to members about how budget reductions were an opportunity to focus on innovative programs that have reduced costs while providing county residents greater access to information about their homes.

Having heard from the separately elected officials, the Council will begin its review of the Executive Proposed budget on Wednesday, October 3 with the first meeting of the General Government Panel and our first special night meeting.   

Council’s Budget Leadership Team to develop a 2013 Budget that integrates King County Strategic Plan

• Councilmember Kathy Lambert will direct the Public Safety and Physical Environment Panel. The panel will assess the Executive’s proposed budgets for law, justice and public safety agencies along with the departments of Community & Health Services, Transportation, Natural Resources and Parks and Public Health.

• Council Vice Chair Jane Hague will lead the General Government Panel, which will be responsible for General Fund budgets such as Assessments and Elections, and the County’s internal service funds like Facilities Management, Human Resources and Finance.

The Chair of the Metropolitan King County Council’s Budget Leadership Team announced that the Council’s Budget Committee will host three evening meetings to hear from the public on the County Executive’s proposed 2013 King County Budget. 

“This is an opportunity for individuals to tell the County Council what government services are most important to them,” said Councilmember Joe McDermott, chair of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “These public hearings are a critical part of our budget deliberations, so I hope that residents will come and share their priorities with us.”

Hosted by Councilmember McDermott, who will be joined on the Budget Leadership Team by Councilmembers Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague and Julia Patterson, the three public hearings will be held:

• Wednesday, October 3- Maleng Regional Justice Center, Courtroom 3F, 401 4th Avenue North, Kent
• Wednesday, October 10 – Bellevue City Hall, City Council Chambers , 450 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue
• Wednesday, October 17 – King County Courthouse, County Council Chambers, 10th Flr, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle

All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Day-after coverage of the public hearings will be available both online and on King County TV, seen on Comcast and Broadstripe Cable Channel 22. You can also sign up to follow the deliberations on Facebook and Twitter (#KCBudget)

2013 Budget deliberations begin with delivery of Executive budget address

Executive Dow Constantine will present his proposed 2013 Budget on Monday, Sept 24 at 11 a.m. The budget address will be carried live on King County TV, cable channel 22.

The Executive’s budget address is the start of an intensive eight-week process of Council review and deliberation, with the vote on the spending plan traditionally taking place the Monday before Thanksgiving.  The budget is a complex policy document that sets priorities, shapes service delivery, and impacts all areas of County government. The Council is responsible for making all final decisions on the budget.