King County Executive Ron Sims today proposed a budget of almost $3.1 billion that includes new and innovative efforts and has met the challenge of a $52 million deficit through efficiencies, reduced overhead and entrepreneurial programs.
Crippled by outdated fiscal laws, initiatives, an eroding revenue base, state cuts, unfunded state requirements and a recession, King County's current expense, or general, fund decreased $1.3 million from last year to $495 million. It is from this fund that all criminal justice, public health, elections, assessments, treasury and other required functions are funded. Many discretionary programs, like parks and human services, have also in the past been supported by this fund.
"We took a new look at how we provide public safety and health services to our 1.7 million residents and have prepared a budget to meet this mission," said Sims.
"Our accomplishments, reflected in this budget, tell the story of a refocused county government. In this budget, we make smart investments to reduce longer-term costs, especially in the field of criminal justice as well as recent actions with our parks."
Sims said that King County, in this budget, will set in motion a close scrutiny of what the actual cost of providing both regional and local services are and the revenues that support them.
Overall, including designated transit and wastewater efforts, the total budget is an increase of seven percent from $2.9 billion in 2002, which includes increased capital spending and refinancing of old debt for major projects like the seismic retrofit of the Courthouse and construction of the Regional Communications Emergency Coordination Center. The total number of full time equivalent employees is 13,105, down from 2002 by 259.
"The proposed budget reflects priorities to preserve mandatory criminal justice and public health services above funding for discretionary programs, like parks and human services, although King County remains the second largest provider of human services in Washington, behind the state," said Sims.
"We will continue our efforts working with cities to take parks, pools and human services in their communities, and to address the inequity that currently exists between urban and rural service provision."
In addition, Sims said King County continues to identify and reduce administrative costs and to work with labor to reduce employment and workforce costs.
Revenues for the general fund budget remain capped at the voter-approved level of one percent growth, despite escalating costs in every aspect of county government. The general fund budget was balanced by making on-going expenditure reductions and administrative savings totaling more than $52 million. It contains no new property taxes.
Sims announced several initiatives that he is planning for 2003. The first is a general government budget advisory task force, headed by Bob Wallace, an Eastside businessman, and John Warner, a former Boeing executive. This group will review the existing budget, focus on the general fund, programs, policies, business processes and the regional and local service costs and to what extent existing revenues support them. This group will then make recommendations to Sims.
Another initiative includes the creation of internal management tools based on central tracking and trending of key performance measures. Targets for performance will be reviewed monthly and compiled to create historical data, future targets and monitor current status.
The 2003 Executive's Proposed Budget was delivered to the King County Council today and members will review it over the next month. Adoption is expected in mid-November.
The speech and a detailed breakout of specific proposals can be viewed online, at http://www.metrokc.gov/budget/, under 2003 Budget on the Office of Budget home page.
The Executive's speech will be replayed on King County's Civic Television (CTV) on the following days/times:
- Monday, Oct. 14, 2002: 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2002: 5 a.m., 10 a.m., 7 p.m., 10:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2002: 8:30 a.m.
Please check your cable listings for channel information.
Related Information:
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King County Executive Ron Sims at the podium taking questions from the media regarding his 2003 Proposed Budget.
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