Fiscal
integrity and accountability in the use of tax dollars are among the highest
values for members of the King County Council, declared Councilmembers today
as they unanimously adopted a motion establishing a set of 11 priorities
to guide their deliberations over the next two months in review and adoption
of the 2007 King County Budget:
PRIORITIES FOR PEOPLE
for the 2007 King County Budget
Citizens expect fiscal integrity and accountability in the use of their
tax dollars. The Metropolitan King County Council meets that demand by
setting priorities, funding programs consistent with those priorities,
and measuring results.
EARNING PUBLIC TRUST
• Advance sound financial policies and prudently manage the public’s
money
• Engage citizens in oversight of government services
• Strive for excellence in customer service
• Measure our performance and report back to the public
ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE
• Improve mobility for people, vehicles and freight
• Take good care of the environment and manage growth wisely
• Create and encourage vibrant cultural and recreational opportunities
PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Invest in prevention to reduce crime and the cost of detention
• Promote conditions for optimal physical and mental health
• Sustain critical health and human service programs
• Prepare our community for natural disasters and public health
emergencies
“Our
primary responsibility is to maintain the financial integrity of county
government. We do this by setting priorities, funding programs consistent
with those priorities, and measuring the results,” said Councilmember
Dow Constantine,
chair of the Council’s Annual Budget Reconciliation and Adoption
Committee. “We have just five weeks to analyze and prepare this
budget. This public discussion of policy priorities sets the stage for
the tough budget choices we will have to make in the coming weeks.”
Joining Constantine on the Council's budget leadership team are Bob
Ferguson, chair of the Capital Budget Panel; Jane
Hague, chair of the Operating Budget Panel; and Kathy
Lambert, Panel Vice-Chair.
‘“Priorities for People’ is a roadmap of where the Council
will lead the County budget,” said Councilmember Ferguson. “By
setting priorities we promote accountability and ensure every taxpayer
dollar works to meet the most critical needs of county residents.”
“This
year we will integrate performance measures into our annual budget review
to establish the link between resources and results,” said Councilmember
Hague. “We will examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the
services county government delivers, whether our programs are accomplishing
their goals at a reasonable cost, and whether they truly meet the needs
of citizens.”
“It is important that we continue to look at our focus and make
sure that we are spending first on the priorities of government,”
said Councilmember Lambert. “We need to continue working to have
our departments deliver top-quality, efficient service, always remembering
that each employee works for the citizens and is accountable to them.”
To develop the County's budget priorities, the Council’s Committee-of-the-Whole
held a special meeting Oct. 2 at the Youngstown Cultural
Arts Center in West Seattle. Members received updates on performance audits
conducted by the King County Auditor and the use of performance measures
by the County.
King County Executive Ron Sims will deliver his annual budget address
to the Council at the Council’s meeting on Monday, October
16. You can watch it live on King
County Television, Comcast Cable 22, followed by a live news
conference with members of the Council Budget Leadership team. By tradition,
the Council adopts the County budget on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Stay on top of the Council’s 2007 Budget
process by visiting the
Council's Budget Website
Read
more about this legislation on the King County Council’s
LEGISEARCH system.
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in “2006-0460”
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Mailing Address: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200,
Seattle, WA 98104-3272