Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine today praised the working collaboration with the Metropolitan King County Council that led to adoption of the 2012 King County Budget one-and-a-half weeks ahead of schedule.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine today praised the working collaboration with the Metropolitan King County Council that led to adoption of the 2012 King County Budget one-and-a-half weeks ahead of schedule.

"This quickened decisive action on the budget is without precedent, and it's made possible by the partnership we have created with the Council, our employees, and our employee unions," said Executive Constantine. "Our practice of teamwork and respect is setting an example and building confidence across the region. As called for in our strategic plan, we are truly working together for One King County."

The Executive credited the early adoption of the budget to the leadership of Council Chair Larry Gossett, Council Budget Chair Julia Patterson, and Budget Leadership Team members Jane Hague, Kathy Lambert and Joe McDermott.

The Executive thanked the Council for preserving all the key elements of the budget he proposed on Sept. 26 - a budget with no cuts to services in the General Fund, and one that embraces his reform agenda of partnering with employees to create efficiencies that maintain the current level of services at three percent less cost.

In particular the Executive praised the Council for its fiscal responsibility in supporting his proposal to add $2.7 million to the County's rainy day funds, thereby raising the County's General Fund reserves above the 6 percent minimum and helping ensure the County retains its sterling AAA bond rating that saves ratepayers on the cost of borrowed money for major capital projects.

By tradition the Council adopts the annual County budget on the Monday before Thanksgiving, which this year falls on Nov. 21. Last year the Council adopted the budget one week early.

Looking ahead, the Executive said the County will have to work even harder next year to continue creating efficiencies in order to preserve current levels of service.

"We cannot provide state services that will no longer be funded by the state, nor can we make up for severe federal cuts," said Executive Constantine. "What we have shown we can do is to work creatively and efficiently to manage those things in our control, and deal responsibly with external forces."

Learn more about the County Council's adoption of the 2012 King County Budget at:

www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget