Summary

With funding for crucial transportation infrastructure – including regional trails, resources to develop new youth diversion programs to steer at-risk youth away from juvenile detention, housing and support for recovery services, the council’s 2021-22 biennial budget responds to the needs of residents in Councilmember Kathy Lambert’s district and across King County.

Story

The King County Council again demonstrated its ability to come together to invest in the region’s future with the passage Tuesday of a $12.58 billion budget for the next two years.

With funding for crucial transportation infrastructure – including regional trails, resources to develop new youth diversion programs to steer at-risk youth away from juvenile detention, housing and support for recovery services, the council’s 2021-22 biennial budget responds to the needs of residents in Councilmember Kathy Lambert’s district and across King County.

“Finalizing and adopting the 2021-2022 King County Budget was certainly a challenge this year, as we continue to adapt and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the region,” Councilmember Lambert said. “The uncertain economy required many difficult cuts across county government. However, I believe this budget reflects not only our commitment to our obligations as the local government for the residents of unincorporated King County, but the importance of our role as a regional leader as well.”

Councilmember Lambert’s district particularly benefits from additional funding to maintain and repair critical roads and bridges, continue building out trail systems, continue crucial work to provide recovery and behavioral health support and more.

Funding directly benefiting District 3 includes:

• Vital funding for bridges in unincorporated King County (including the Upper Tokul Creek Bridge near Snoqualmie, the Ames Lake Bridge near Redmond, and the Baring Bridge near Skykomish)
• $1.13M to restore proposed cuts to the King County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit. This helicopter provides crucial search and rescue work in King County’s wildlands, as well as a host of other work for multiple agencies.
• More than $13 million in funding to add fiber infrastructure along the Eastrail corridor, which will help provide reliable internet service in parts of Woodinville, Redmond, and unincorporated King County
• More than $8 million for roadway preservation in unincorporated King County
• $45 million for the construction of Segment B of the East Lake Sammamish Trail
• $5 million in funding to extend the East Lake Sammamish Trail to the Redmond Light Rail extension
• Funding for drainage and curbing at the Preston Athletic Fields
• Support for the King County Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) fund to offset cuts due to declines in sales tax revenue
• Funding for the Sheriff’s Office to create a behavioral health navigator program to deescalate police interactions with people experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis, and connect individuals to important resources.