King County budget embraces Executive strategy
King County Executive Ron Sims is set to review and approve the budget voted on today by the Metropolitan King County Council. The council’s budget incorporates nearly all of the recommendations in the balanced budget proposed by the Executive just over a month ago, which filled the nearly $93.4 million budget gap with permanent reductions, efficiencies and revenue increases, salary and overhead savings and limited use of reserves.
In addition to maintaining elements of the Executive’s “lifeboat strategy” for providing partial funding for critical Public Health services, the council also incorporated salary and facility savings from nearly countywide employee furloughs negotiated between the Executive and union leaders.
“There has never been a budget as tough as this one, and I’m pleased the council followed my lead and priorities: out of a $644.4 million general fund budget, in the end the council only changed about $10.6 million,” said Executive Sims. “The council embraced protecting public safety and public health services while keeping reserves at a level that allows us to maintain our AAA bond rating.” Learn more.
Related information
- Sims and unions reach tentative agreement on county budget
- 2009 Budget information
- Sims and union coalition reach tentative agreement on county budget
Brightwater tunnel machine sees the light, marks major milestone
King County's Brightwater project reached a major milestone late last week as workers completed the first tunnel of the new wastewater treatment system's 13-mile conveyance system.
Tunnel boring machine "Luminita" emerged on the Brightwater treatment plant site north of Woodinville on Friday afternoon, completing its 14-month underground journey from Bothell that began in September 2007. The concrete-lined tunnel created by Luminita is 14,000 feet long and approximately 18 feet in diameter. The tunnel lies about 260 feet below the surface at its deepest point.
"Modern tunneling technology enabled us to complete construction while causing minimal disruption to residents and businesses above ground," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "The result is a successful tunneling project that will help us continue ensuring clean water and a healthy environment for people across the region." Learn more.
King County Animal Shelter doubling in size
The sounds of construction are in the air outside of the King County animal shelter in Kent. Crews are installing two new large portable buildings alongside the current 37 year-old converted dairy barn, essentially doubling the space that will be made available for homeless cats.Learn more...
Health care system gains emergency capacity
In one of the first exercises of its kind in the nation, Public Health - Seattle & King County, the King County Health Care Coalition, the City of Seattle and partners from throughout the region today are demonstrating their ability to mobilize and operate an emergency Health Care Center, also known as an Alternate Care Facility (ACF). The purpose of the emergency Health Care Center is to relieve pressure on the local health care system by adding extra medical capacity during a disaster. Learn more...
National accolades for performance measures
King County's AIMS High performance measurement system has won another national award for excellence (external link).
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