For More Information:  Cynthia Sullivan (206) 296-1002
                                 Larry Phillips (206) 296-1004
                                 Larry Gossett (206) 296-1010

Council Chair Cynthia Sullivan called today’s approval by the Metropolitan King Council of a motion asking the county’s law-and-justice agencies to work with the council in finding savings in the criminal justice system an indication of the budget crisis facing King County.

“It’s vital that we get the agencies responsible for using the bulk of our current expense budget involved in the process,” said Sullivan.

The motion asks that while preparing their 2003 budgets, law-and-justice agencies look for ways to reduce operational costs over the next three years to help the county meet its budget needs and submit their proposals to the council by October 1.

“Sixty-eight percent of our general fund budget supports criminal justice spending,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “If we’re to stop this budget crisis from becoming an emergency, we need to involve the county’s law-and-justice agencies. Their cooperation, initiative and best efforts are critical to our success.”

“This motion is an extension of the work that was started by the passage of the Adult Justice Operational Master Plan,” said Law, Justice and Human Services Chair Larry Gossett. “That plan acknowledges alternatives such as drug courts and driver relicensing programs frees up jail cell space and saves money. We want law-and-justice agencies to continue working with us in finding efficiencies that will benefit everyone while keeping our streets safe.”