Budget news
These news pages are a King County News beta project that uses a third-party RSS service. They may take a few seconds to load. More information about RSS...
June 17: Sims commends County Council for adopting sewer rate increase
Calling it a victory for public health, the environment and the regional economy, King County Executive Ron Sims commended the County Council's decision to adopt a two-year monthly wholesale sewer rate of $31.90.
June 5: Sims says King County must tighten belt, innovate and reduce costs, then seek solutions in Olympia- King County
King County Executive Ron Sims today vowed the county will do all it can to prioritize programs, innovate, find efficiencies and reduce costs as he laid out the steps he is taking to deal with the projected $68 million 2009 budget deficit.
May 15, 2008: Taxpayers and the Earth save ‘green’ with King County’s environmental purchasing policy- King County
A new report shows taxpayers in King County are saving money while safeguarding the environment through the county's Environmental Purchasing Program.
April 18: Sims' sewer rate proposal stresses clean-water investments, continued sound financial practices- King County
Emphasizing the need for ongoing investments in clean-water infrastructure and sound financial management practices, King County Executive Ron Sims today delivered his 2009 monthly sewer rate proposal to the County Council.
Feb. 29: New King County notices show homeowners where their property taxes are going
This month King County taxpayers will discover something new in their mailbox: informational, itemized property tax notices. Different than property tax statements, these notices will be mailed starting in mid-March to over 311,000 taxpayers whose taxes a
Nov. 29: King County continues to receive high marks for bond ratings- King County
King County continues to receive high marks for its bond ratings from all three of the national credit rating agencies. The bond rating is important because it reduces the amount of borrowing costs to King County and ultimately to taxpayers.
Nov. 19: Executive Sims praises County Council for fiscal prudence as it approves 2008 budget- King County
"I commended the Metropolitan King County Council for investing in the future and showing fiscal discipline and leadership in passing a 2008 budget that funds urgently needed safety, transportation and social services while building budget reserves. This
Oct. 15: Sims’ 2008 budget invests in children’s health, flood protection, criminal justice, transportation and treatment for mentally ill- King County
King County Executive Ron Sims today presented a 2008 budget that invests in protecting people, the economy and transportation mobility. Sims called on the County Council to continue the fiscal prudence practiced in recent budgets as the county faces diff
Oct. 5: King County maintains exceptional 'AAA' bond rating - King County
The nation's top bond rating agencies have reaffirmed their AAA rating for King County as it prepares to issue bonds and bond anticipation notes to finance capital projects such as integrated security and health projects in the downtown Seattle jail.
Oct. 4: Sims’ 2008 budget adds corrections officers, gang unit and domestic violence prevention staff- King County
King County Executive Ron Sims' 2008 budget reaffirms his unwavering commitment to protect people and property with $6.1 million in new criminal justice staffing.
Sept. 24: County advances to next stage in transforming business operations to offer more effective services- King County
With the approval and release of funding today, King County is moving forward in developing a new business model that will deliver efficiencies within the county and more effective services to county residents.
May 30: Sims lauds County Council for adopting stable sewer rate and fees in 2008
Customers served by King County's wastewater utility will see no change in their monthly sewer bill in 2008 for the portion of sewer services provided by King County's Wastewater Treatment Division.
May 25: Executive transmits supplemental budget to council
Today, Executive Ron Sims officially transmitted to the King County Council a supplemental budget that keeps all Public Health clinics open through 2007 and creates reserves for funding the clinics for 2008 while long-term solutions are developed.
March 29: Citizen task force supports renewal of levy, investments in King County Parks system- King County
King County Executive Ron Sims today welcomed the final report of a citizen task force convened to look at ways to strengthen the financial health of King County's park system.
Jan. 8: King County Council to Engage Citizens on Budget Priorities and Performance of Government
The Metropolitan King County Council today launched a new initiative to engage citizens in a public process to prioritize services for the 2008 King County Budget, and help evaluate how their money is being spent.
Nov. 20: King County Executive Initiatives move forward with passage of 2007 county budget- King County
The Executive’s efforts to protect the environment, combat global warming, find health insurance for children and fund recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Panel on the Sheriff will move forward next year with the unanimous approval today of the nearly $4
Oct. 16: Sims invests in bricks and mortar of government in 2007 budget- King County
King County Executive Ron Sims today unveiled a 2007 budget that continues strategic investments in vital infrastructure of technology, transportation, human & health services, sewage treatment and criminal justice.
Oct. 9: Investing in the infrastructure of our future- King County
Sims proposes upgrades, repairs to roads, wastewater and solid waste systems
Oct. 3: Sims’ 2007 budget to propose major investments in King County’s ‘green infrastructure’- King County
Vowing to "ensure that our children's children will have a quality of life that includes access to trails, open spaces, forests, fresh air and clean waterways," County Executive Ron Sims today proposed investing nearly $20 million in "green infrastrure".
Oct 2: King County joins local housing authorities in dedicating $6.1 million to create new multi-year homeless housing and supportive services- King County
More than 200 low-income, homeless individuals and their families will be able to move into stable housing where they can receive the services they need to maintain that housing...
Sept. 28: Media advisory, Executive Sims makes budget announcement today
King County Executive Ron Sims will have two major budget announcements concerning the Sheriff's Office and Public Health clinics.
June 19: Sims lauds County Council for adopting reduced 2-year sewer rate- King County
King County Executive Ron Sims said sewer rate-payers, public health, and the region’s environment and economy are big winners with a new two-year sewer rate and capacity charge adopted today by the County Council.
June 9: Citizen panel to review King County Parks levy spending
King County is convening a nine-member citizen oversight board to review the Parks and Recreation Division's spending of funds from a voter-approved levy.
May 16: Favorable interest rates, successful bond sale helps King County reduce proposed two-year sewer rate- King County
Sewer ratepayers have even better news about monthly sewer bills after King County’s bond rating was upgraded and bonds sold for sewer projects got a lower than expected interest rate.
April 28: Ratepayers to benefit from King County's bond rating boost- King County
Ratepayers served by King County's regional sewer system will benefit from a newly upgraded bond rating that will help lower the cost of funding new sewer improvement projects.
April 24: Bid for Brightwater tunneling project $20 million below estimate
King County's wastewater utility ratepayers got encouraging news when bids on a contract to build the central conveyance pipeline for the Brightwater project came in significantly lower than the engineers' estimate.
Feb. 27: Inflation and mitigation commitments affect Brightwater cost trend
Rising inflation, higher global commodities prices and mitigation commitments have prompted King County's Wastewater Treatment Division to revise cost trends for the Brightwater wastewater treatment system project.
Jan. 9: King County Investment Pool receives highest rating from Standard & Poor's
The King County Investment Pool was assigned the highest credit quality rating today by Standard and Poor's Rating Services--the first local government investment pool in the Pacific Northwest to receive Standard & Poor's highest rating, 'AAAf'.
Dec. 16: Sims vetoes part of 2005 supplemental budget
King County Executive Ron Sims today made a partial veto of the 2005 Fourth Quarter Supplemental Budget eliminating nearly $4 million in non-county projects the Metropolitan King County Council quietly added last week.
Oct. 17: Sims hails new AAA bond ratings and an end of deficits in positive 2006 budget
King County Executive Ron Sims today unveiled a 2006 budget that reflects an exceptional turnaround in county finances. It includes healthy reserves, no major cuts and reflects the benefit of strong policies that control costs to align with revenues.
Oct. 14: Sims unveils historic green space and trail investments for King County
Vowing to "get the most green for our green" and invest new revenues wisely, King County Executive Ron Sims today proposed more than $20 million in his 2006 budget that will complement an historic level of investments in acquiring natural lands.