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King County 2026-27 Budget Process
This fall, the King County Council will review and adopt a two-year $19.7 billion budget for 2026 and 2027. The budget is one of the most important things the County works on as it determines our future and sets our values in motion. You’ll find important information below, including an opportunity to provide your feedback.
Submit Your Comments
Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about the proposed King County budget. You can also email us at budget.council@kingcounty.gov or attend or watch a committee meeting.
Who Decides?
The process begins with the Executive’s proposal in September and concludes in November after Council-led public hearings, deliberations, and amendments. This is one of the Council’s most important responsibilities, because it determines how policy becomes action in people’s daily lives.
What is the County Budget?
The King County budget is more than numbers — it’s our community’s plan for the next two years. It reflects the values we share as a region and sets the course for how we invest in health, safety, housing, transit, parks, and opportunity for all residents. Every dollar is a decision about what kind of community we want to be.
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Your tax dollars provide residents with many things, including Metro transit, public health clinics and emergency medical services, law enforcement, parks and trails. These funds also give us clean water, garbage pickup, roads in unincorporated areas, and services that help veterans, seniors and kids.
The Big Picture
Every dollar is an investment in safe, healthy, and sustainable communities.
TOTAL SIZE
$19.7+
BILLION
Across many funds.
RESTRICTED FUNDS
83%
Must be spent on specific things, like wastewater and voter-approved levies.
GENERAL FUND
17%
Flexible fund that pays for local priorities.
Where the money comes from:
- Property tax
- Sales tax
- State and federal funds
- Rates and fees
Where the money goes:
- Transit: buses, vans, Water Taxi
- Health: clinics, emergency medical services, public health
- Law and Justice: courts, Sheriff, transit security
- Healthy Environment: parks, trails, clean water, salmon recovery
- County Operations: elections, property assessments
- Investing In Residents: veterans, seniors, and kids
- Unincorporated Area Services: roads, permitting
Budget Breakdown
The General Fund
Why the General Fund Gets Attention
The General Fund is only 17% of the total budget, but it covers many services that don’t have a dedicated funding source. This is where the Council has the most flexibility — and where we can turn our local priorities into action.
A small slice of the budget with an outsized impact, the General Fund pays for health, justice, safety, and democracy in King County.
General Fund Services Include:
- Courts
- Prosecuting Attorney
- Public Defense
- Sheriff and investigations
- Jails & detention
- Elections
- Emergency management
- Public health
Persistent Deficit
Like households, King County’s costs rise each year — healthcare, labor, and construction get more expensive. But state law caps property tax growth at just 1% per year. Over time, revenues can’t keep up with costs, leading to an ongoing/persistent budget gap.
Even with this challenge, King County leads with responsibility and fairness — balancing budgets while protecting critical services and planning for the future
The Effect of the Persistent Deficit
Budget Timeline
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September
Executive proposes new budget.
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October
Council hearings and public input.
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November
Council adopts final budget.
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January 2026
New budget takes effect.
Attend or Watch a Budget Committee Meeting
Remotely
Connect by computer using Zoom: zoom.us/join. Or by phone: 1-253-215-8782. Webinar ID: 867 1228 9077.
On KCTV
Livestream: kingcounty.gov/KCTV
Comcast channel 22 or 322 (HD), or Astound Broadband 22 or 711 (HD). View past meetings.
Free translation, interpretation, and accessibility services are available. Contact Tera Chea (206) 477-9259 or Tera.Chea2@kingcounty.gov, three days before the meeting.
Budget Documents
Did You Know?
Elections
Every election, King County mails over 1.3 million ballots and operates 70+ secure drop boxes across the region.
Transit
Metro provides over 250,000 rides on busy days.
Parks and Trails
King County maintains 28,000+ acres of parks and 250 miles of regional trails that connect communities.
Quick Guide: County, City or State?
COUNTY: Metro Transit, public health, district and superior court, jails, elections, zoning and sheriff in unincorporated areas, regional parks.
CITIES: Police, fire, local roads, neighborhood parks.
STATE: Highways, state patrol, universities, statewide laws