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	Nov. 24, 2003 Sims commends Council for adopting key budget initiatives King County Executive Ron Sims today commended the Metropolitan King County Council leadership for its adoption of a $3 billion 2004 budget that included all of his major initiatives including annexation, technology funds and collection of rent from the solid waste utility. In addition, as a result of a variety of new revenues Sims was able to identify after his budget was presented key health and human service programs, like teen health clinics, that were restored in conjunction with the Council. Sims said the initiatives he proposed, as well as careful spending, made the budget possible without a general tax increase. He commended the Council and its budget Chair Larry Phillips and Vice Chair Jane Hague for a bipartisan collaborative, cooperative budget effort.   "The last three years have presented severe financial challenges. But through aggressive management — budget cuts, efficiencies and getting out of some businesses — we have made King County a truly lean, effective regional government," said Sims. "This year was no different. We were faced with a $24 million shortfall, following $93 million in cuts over the last two years. We continued to work with our employees to create new ways of doing business and efficiencies in all we do. As a result, we not only presented a balanced budget, but we are refocusing county government to serve its core missions.” Many of Sims’ budget initiatives were based on recommendations from the Budget Advisory Task Force he created last year, which was led by key regional business leaders. These initiatives were adopted intact. The Budget Advisory Task Force’s primary recommendations were that King County encourage annexations of the remaining urban unincorporated areas to adjacent cities and that the County act like a business and recover the full cost of providing services through contracts and fees wherever possible. The initiatives Sims proposed follow that philosophy. They include: Establishing an annexation incentive reserve fund to encourage cities to annex urban unincorporated areas; Fund much needed technology infrastructure to allow King County to operate more efficiently; Holding funds from Ridgway in a criminal justice reserve fund to offset future reductions to those agencies; and Direct operating savings within the solid waste utility to King County's general fund to fund critical human services, which had been reduced in previous budget years. "I am delighted we were able to secure new revenues after my budget had been proposed, and with those funds, the Council and I agreed to restore cuts to health and human services such as teen health clinics, which although not required by law are vital services and restoring them was a priority for the new funds." Related links: Executive's Proposed 2004 Budget Budget Office Web site Metropolitan King County Council's 2004 Budget Deliberations Web site Updated: Nov. 24, 2003 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.