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2026 - 2027 Proposed Budget
More than 18,000 King County employees provide local and regional services to more than 2.4 million residents, with a 2026-2027 Proposed Budget of $19.7 billion.
Key Investments
Implementing a new criminal justice and public safety sales tax.
The new 0.1 percent sales tax authorized by HB 2015 will generate $203.5 million for King County’s General Fund in the 2026-2027 biennium. Revenue from the new sales tax will maintain core services and add funding for key priorities in the criminal justice system.
- Revenue from the new sales tax will preserve critical public safety and related services that were at risk for reduction, including Sheriff's deputies, services for crime victims, efforts to reduce gun violence, and behavioral health programs that help keep people out of the justice system.
- The new sales tax will also provide funding to address new requirements and improve the justice system, including adding public defenders, investing in court interpreters, increasing victim support services, preserving homeless shelter services, and providing staffing and resources for the Sheriff's Office.
Protecting critical programs from federal funding cuts.
The proposed budget uses County funds to maintain essential services facing federal funding reductions, including:
- $3.3 million to transfer 11 positions in the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), currently funded by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants, to the General Fund to ensure that King County remains prepared for and ready to respond to emergencies.
- $2.6 million to nonprofits that are losing funding for youth and young adult homelessness prevention, shelters, and transitional and supportive housing.
- $31 million to establish a reserve to safeguard against potential funding reductions for Harborview Medical Center, and $8 million to establish a reserve in the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Fund as a contingency against potential reductions to behavioral health services.
Preserving services for people experiencing homelessness.
The 2026-2027 Proposed Budget preserves funding for services for people experiencing homelessness despite the loss of one-time federal COVID funds and reduced state funding.
- $11.3 million will maintain 370 shelter beds and a vehicle outreach program that were previously funded with one-time federal COVID funds, including $5.3 million to keep the SoDo Lighthouse Shelter open through the end of its lease in May 2027 and $6 million to maintain the Miracle and Riverton Park Tiny House Villages and the Jefferson Shelter.
- $3.2 million will fund the new 81-bed Federal Way Red Lion Emergency Shelter.
- $5.3 million in one-time Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy funds will ensure ongoing funding of vital emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing programs facing a reduction in state funding.
Providing safe, clean, and reliable transit service.
The proposed budget for Metro Transit invests in restoring and expanding service while improving safety, security, and cleanliness for riders and employees. Highlights include:
- Adding more than 400,000 hours of bus service to restored bus service.
- Launching the RapidRide I and RapidRide J lines.
- Extending the Safety, Security, and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform initiative and continuing transit security and Metro Transit Police (MTP) staffing.
- Continuing more frequent cleaning of buses and bus stops.
Investing in Harborview Medical Center
The 2026-2027 Executive Proposed Budget invests in Harborview Medical Center operations, maintenance, infrastructure, and capital projects. Highlights include:
- $99 million for Harborview operations.
- $42 million to support capital projects at Harborview that are part of the voter-approved Proposition 1 Bond program.
- $24 million towards five Harborview major maintenance projects approved in 2025.
- $23 million for tenant improvements to the Duncan Building, which will be the new location of the Pioneer Square Clinic.
Care for Youth Justice
The 2026-2027 Executive Proposed Budget brings forward a renewed focus on care for youth justice.
- The King County Youth Diversion and Intervention (KCYDI) program will provide diversion services for youth facing misdemeanor charges. KCYDI will revise the previously established Restorative Community Pathways program, with key administrative changes designed to address coordination and communication challenges, while preserving a commitment to community-based services and individualized youth support.
- The 2026-2027 budget also adds three new Juvenile Probation Counselors (JPCs) to Superior Court. JPCs provide direct support, supervision, and connection to individualized services for court-involved youth and their families.
What's next?
The King County Council will hold hearings on the 2026-2027 Proposed Budget in October and will likely pass the budget in mid-November. The 2026-2027 Adopted Budget goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Visit kingcounty.gov/council/budget to learn more.