Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine released the following statement on the biennial $11.6 billion King County budget.

Story

“I thank members of the King County Council for their careful review of my proposed 2019-2020 budget, and for supporting our shared priorities. For an environment in crisis – I proposed and we are funding real solutions to restore and protect natural habitat. For the homeless – shelter and services that lead to a better life.

"For the hundreds of thousands of commuters – expanding Metro and deploying innovations to make transit work even better. For those who are not sharing in our current prosperity – restructuring training and employment programs. As part of our award-winning continuous improvement efforts – reforming County government and delivering maximum General Fund and Metro reserves. All of this is in service to our commitment that every person in King County will have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, and contribute to the community.”  

Highlights of the 2019-2020 budget include:

• Consolidating work and creating three new departments – Metro, Department of Local Services and Human Resources Department – to improve customer service and enhance accountability.
• Leveraging several funding sources, including the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy, document recording fees, General Fund, Convention Place housing mitigation funds, and Mental Illness and Drug Dependency sales tax revenues to fund permanent supportive housing, treatment, and a variety of shelter and housing models, including $12 million for congregate shelters, micro dwelling units, and permanent supportive housing – all built with modular construction to lower costs and accelerate final delivery.
• Funding solutions to improve community safety and help young people thrive, including $1 million for community-based services to provide mentoring, case management, and educational services for youth, and directing $842,280 to the newly formed Sheriff’s Office Youth & Family Investigative Unit.
• Protecting and restoring our natural environment with investments in several key areas, including $170 million to control combined sewer overflows and update the long-term control plan, using new debt financing to support $148 million to protect key habitat, urban open space, and forest and farms, investing $45 million in county funding and grants to restore shoreline habitat, and $12.5 million to reduce stream barriers and open 150 miles of salmon habitat. 

Relevant links

• Executive Constantine announces proposed biennial budget
• Public safety investments
• Juvenile justice reforms 

For more information, contact:

Alex Fryer, Executive Office, 206-477-7966