Dear Friend:

On Monday, the King County Council unanimously adopted the 2008 King County Budget. As a member once again of the Budget Leadership Team, I am proud of the council’s work, and I believe this budget is focused on sensible and practical improvements to the quality of life for county residents.

We maintained a budget that honored the property tax limits of Initiative 747. We continued our prudent financial practices, including creation of a new rainy day fund, and we produced a budget that was $40 million less than the Executive’s proposed budget.

Highlights of this year’s budget include:

• fulfilling voters’ wishes for a biennial budgeting process. It begins with the county’s Transit Division. This approach to budgeting will provide a more efficient programming and planning capability;

• funding a King County Sheriff’s Gang Suppression Unit to tackle the rising incidence of gang-related crime in King County and to ensure that we do not lose another dedicated officer like deputy Steve Cox;

• funding a Blue Ribbon Panel’s recommendations for improvements in the Sheriff’s Office;

• creating a separate Elections Division, so that the head of this department will be entirely focused on protecting our fundamental right to vote;

• increasing Metro bus service;

• mandating that tax statements be sent to property owners with a list showing where their taxes are going, thus providing more transparency in the Assessor’s Office;

• freezing some funds for Animal Control Services until a clear mission and objectives for this office are determined by the Council in early 2008;

• increasing staff support for the county’s courts so that cases can be handled for citizens more quickly and efficiently;

• cutting or delaying work on millions of dollars in capital and other projects until a clear and compelling business case is provided to the Council.


While the 2008 budget continues the King County Council’s tradition of fiscal responsibility, this council had to face a difficult request from the Executive to fund programs that have been the responsibility of federal and state governments. The Council struggled with how to handle these new taxes but decided that the needs were imperative. Although I did not support all of the taxes at the proposed levels, the final budget included the following new taxes:

1. Flood Control Zone District
My colleagues and I, in the role of a Flood Control Zone Board of Supervisors, voted to form a new flood district that will begin collecting property taxes in 2008 at 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. I voted "No" on the Flood Control Zone tax. It is my belief that District Six constituents should not be taxed at such a high rate when our cities have already spent millions addressing our own flooding problems. A small regional tax would have been acceptable if it was accompanied by some form of a user tax for those who choose to live in known flood-prone areas.

2. Mental Health and Chemical Dependency
The facts show that 44,000 low-income residents have alcohol or drug dependency problems, 65,000 residents have a serious mental illness, and suicide is now the leading cause of death for 18- to 24-year-olds. Funds from a one-tenth of a cent sales tax will help those with mental health and chemical dependency needs lead productive lives and stay out of expensive emergency rooms and jails. With King County spending $300 per inmate each day in the psychiatric section of our jail’s health facility, it was a choice between county citizens paying now or likely paying a much higher price later. This tax has an expiration date.

3. Ferry District
In light of the failure of Proposition 1’s enormous tax obligation, my colleagues and I, as the Ferry District Board, chose to provide a transportation alternative in the form of a ferry system. The first demonstration route will be across Lake Washington, and it will be up and running in two years. It was a relatively quick solution that could be provided at 5.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Although a comprehensive solution to replacing the State Route 520 Bridge is a top priority, the timing of this demonstration project will provide an alternative for 520 commuters.

As the regional government for King County, we have to see the big picture. We see needs that affect everyone whether directly or indirectly. We know that sometimes, one part of the county has to support another part of the county, or we all suffer. In essence, we are one region, and we need regional solutions.

Please contact me if you have more questions regarding the 2008 budget or other county issues, or visit our web site at www.kingcounty.gov/council.

Sincerely,

Jane Hague

County Councilmember, District 6
jane.hague@kingcounty.gov
(206) 296-1006
(206) 296-0389 (fax)

Subscribe to my e-news: www.metrokc.gov/council/members/hague