“Every year, we grapple with tough choices. Do we add more Metro bus routes or increase security on the routes we have? Do we immunize more children or keep our public health clinics from closing?” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, chair of the Operating Budget Committee. “Last year, we made a commitment to let the public ‘behind the curtain’ of the budget process—these workshops are an opportunity to have a role in shaping our 2008 County budget.”

“One of the most challenging tasks facing the King County Council is shaping the county’s $4 billion budget. How do lawmakers decide what is the best use of taxpayer dollars?” said Councilmember Jane Hague, vice-chair of the Operating Budget Committee. “Last year for the first time we adopted a set of ‘Priorities for People’ that guided our decisions on the 2007 Budget. This year we want to hear directly from citizens for their priorities for how their tax dollars are spent.”

At each public forum, the first 250 participants will be provided with a wireless hand-held keypad with which to anonymously enter their opinions on a variety of issues and spending priorities. Their responses will be recorded in real-time, allowing those in attendance and the Council to gauge citizen priorities for county government.

For those unable to attend the public forums, an interactive survey form posing the same questions on budget priorities will be posted online beginning Tuesday, March 20, on the Council's home page at www.metrokc.gov/council.

The final findings from the Citizen Budget Priorities project will be presented at a special King County Council Town Hall meeting on the Eastside on the evening of Monday, April 16. By April 30, the Council will gather all the citizen comments and submit the results of the focus groups and workshops to the County Executive in preparation of his 2008 budget proposal.

For more on the Citizen Budget Priorities Initiative click here