The Metropolitan King County Council today approved a $2.9 billion 2002 budget reflecting the priorities of King County residents. The bipartisan compromise protects our public safety, provides for local transportation improvements to ease area traffic congestion, and supports needed human services for the elderly, disabled, and for working families.

The compromise also reflects numerous budget reductions brought on by decreasing revenues brought on by the slumping economy and tax-limitation initiatives. The council’s budget reduces spending by $45 million necessitating many painful cuts.

"This bipartisan budget makes difficult choices. As elected leaders, that is what we are hired to do," said Councilmember Larry Phillips. "Unlike armchair critics, leaders make tough choices to address the needs of all King County citizens. In this budget, we have done just that."

"I am proud that we have balanced our public safety and transportation dollars with protection for fragile populations, the arts, the environment, and regional government," said Councilmember Jane Hague. "We have done this within the framework of Initiative 747, keeping tax increases below the rate of inflation. During the past six weeks, we have heard from hundreds of our King County residents who urged us to address our public safety and transportation needs, but not on the backs of our fragile populations and the environment. This budget responds to that message."

Councilmembers working in a bipartisan fashion restored many human services reductions previously cut in the budget. The council’s budget reduced overall spending by $45 million, but Councilmembers anticipate another $40 million more in budget reductions next year as well. As a result of statewide tax limitation initiatives, King County has also been forced to make up $12 million in lost state revenue for public health care, and $5 million in lost state revenue for local law enforcement.

"This bipartisan budget continues reductions we started years ago," said Hague. "We have made real cuts in expenditures, eliminating 42 more positions than the 175 reduced in the Executive Proposed budget. These are tough choices, but necessary cuts to ensure our financial stability in some bleak out years. As we face continuing budget challenges in the year ahead, I look forward to finding ways to provide public services even more efficiently and effectively to save taxpayers money while protecting our quality service levels."

While the council’s budget does not fully restore cuts to human services, it works to develop partnerships with cities to limit hardships on dependant families and individuals.

"We have done all we can to avoid balancing the budget on the backs of the disabled, the disenfranchised, and the disadvantaged," said Phillips. "It is not a political decision whether to provide someone with a hot meal during the day, or a warm place to sleep at night. It’s a moral imperative we must meet."