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Metropolitan King County Council 2020

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Metropolitan King County Council 2020 Your guide to the Metropolitan King County Council 2020 King County Councilmembers (from left): Vice Chair Joe McDermott (District 8), Kathy Lambert (District 3), Girmay Zahilay (District 2), Chair Claudia Balducci (District 6), Dave Upthegrove (District 5), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (District 4), Vice Chair Reagan Dunn (District 9), Peter von Reichbauer (District 7), and Rod Dembowski (District 1). As your Metropolitan King County Council, we • Public health and human services; oversee the second largest government and the most • Metro Transit bus service, Water Taxi, King County populous county in Washington State. With over 2.2 International Airport (Boeing Field), and county roads; million residents, King County is the 12th largest county • Wastewater treatment and solid waste management; in the United States in terms of population. There are • Regional parks, open space, and trails; and more people living in King County than in 16 states! At • Elections, records, and licensing. 2,130 square miles, the county covers more territory than the states of Rhode Island or Delaware. Each of the nine members of the King County Council represents a geographical district averaging Our dedicated employees provide quality regional about 241,000 residents. Councilmembers are elected services every day to county residents. We are also the on a non-partisan basis and serve four-year terms. local government for approximately 248,000 people who live in unincorporated urban and rural areas, and The council has several standing committees that we provide services by contract to many of the oversee specific functions of county government and a county’s 39 cities. Committee of the Whole that includes all council- members. They also work closely with elected officials As the legislative branch of county government, the from local jurisdictions on three regional committees council sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets that address common interests in matters of policy, that guide an array of services, including: transit, and water quality. • The criminal justice system of prosecutors and public The council’s review of ordinances, motions, and defenders, District and Superior Courts, juvenile budgets help ensure that county government detention, and adult jails; operates in an efficient, transparent, and cost-effective • The King County Sheriff’s Office, which directly manner, with equal access for all county residents. serves residents of unincorporated areas and con- tracts with many cities to provide police protection; Get agendas, minutes, and meeting videos online at: www.kingcounty.gov/council Message from the Council Chair and overview of the county budget We have a big year ahead ship, regional collaboration, and quality government at of us at the King County King County in 2020. Council. Collectively, councilmembers bring a wealth of experi- Our county’s booming ence and deep knowledge of the King County commu- economy and rapid growth nities we serve. Although we represent very different present opportunities and parts of the county, and may have different priorities challenges that affect all and viewpoints independently, we all share a common of us, not just as individual commitment to our constituents: to provide excellent cities and towns, but as a regional services, to advance equity and social justice, region. and to make the opportunities to live in and thrive in King County available to all people. Claudia Balducci, Chair The council is ideally situated to act as a leader Ultimately, we are here to serve you. In 2020, be sure and convener to work with our partners throughout to make your voices heard and reach out to your King County and the Puget Sound and build solutions councilmember with feedback, suggestions, and together. As Chair, I am committed to fiscal steward- proposals to make a better King County for all of us. Understanding the county budget The projected deficit in the General Fund to meet the targeted fund balance for the next biennium is $9.4 King County’s operating budget is composed of two million. In the fall of 2020, the council will review the types of funds: dedicated funds and the General Fund. biennial budget for 2021 and 2022. To learn more Dedicated funds are the largest portion, accounting for about the budget, please visit: www.kingcounty.gov/ 82% of the total operating budget. By law, these funds council/budget. are restricted to specific purposes, such as transit, sewage treatment, and voter-approved programs like General Fund expenditures regional Emergency Medical Services. Justice and Elections; Assessor; The discretionary portion of the county’s operating safety, health, human, and budget is the General Fund, which amounts to 18% of 71% community services; the total budget. These funds pay for critical day-to- parks, 11% 1 day services not supported by other revenues. Almost 2 3 4 5 three quarters of the General Fund (71%) goes to pay 6 Delivery of county for criminal justice and public safety, as mandated by the services, 15% state. The remainder must fund other services, such as elections and human services (see pie chart). Debt service, 3% The General Fund is supported mostly by property tax, sales tax, and fees. By law, King County collects Where your property tax dollar goes property taxes on behalf of all taxing districts within the 57 ¢ county. However, the county receives only 17 cents of every property tax dollar, with the rest going to other agencies (see bar graph). Similarly, the county receives less than one cent of the sales tax of 10 cents per dollar collected in most of the county. Since Washington State enacted the 1% cap on property 17 ¢ 16 ¢ tax increases, counties across our state have faced a 8¢ gap between revenue and the cost of providing services. This structural gap has resulted in the General 2 ¢ Fund being cut by several hundred million dollars, with Sound Other King Cities & Schools consequent reduction in services to county residents. Transit districts County towns Council districts map LAKE BOTHELL FOREST SHORELINE PARK KENMORE WOODINVILLE DUVALL SKYKOMISH 1 KIRKLAND EDMOND YARROW R 4 HUNTS POINT POINT 3 CLYDE 6 CARNATION HILL SEATTLE MEDINA BELLEVUE BEAUX ARTS AMMAMISH 2 MERCER S ISLAND ISSAQUAH NEWCASTLE SNOQUALMIE RENTON NORTH 8 BURIEN BEND TUKWILA NORMANDY SEATAC Vashon PARK Island 5 DES MOINES and KENT Isl Incorporated city y ur a APLE M COVINGTON M Major urban unincorporated VALLEY 9 community Unincorporated King County FEDERAL WAY AUBURN BLACK 7 DIAMOND Council district boundary ALGONA MILTON PACIFIC Major urban unincorporated areas ENUMCLAW East Federal Way East Renton Fairwood North Highline West Hill / Skyway Contact information Online Web: www.kingcounty.gov/council The council meets on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Which council district on the 10th floor of the King County kingcountycouncil Courthouse. All public meetings held in do I live in? Twitter: www.twitter.com/kccouncil Enter your address at chambers are available live on King County Instagram: www.instagram.com/kccouncil TV (Comcast Cable Channels 22 and 322 www.kingcounty.gov/ council/councilmembers/ (HD) and Wave Broadband Channel 722 Clerk of the Council find_district (HD)). You can also stream meetings at E-mail: [email protected] www.kingcounty.gov/kctv. Agendas, Telephone: (206) 477-1020 minutes, and videos of past meetings are available on the council’s website. Dist. Councilmember Phone E-mail Mailing address 1 Rod Dembowski 477-1001 [email protected] Metropolitan King County Council 2 Girmay Zahilay 477-1002 [email protected] King County Courthouse 3 Kathy Lambert 477-1003 [email protected] 516 Third Avenue, 12th Floor 4 Jeanne Kohl-Welles 477-1004 [email protected] Seattle, WA 98104-3272 5 Dave Upthegrove 477-1005 [email protected] 6 Claudia Balducci 477-1006 [email protected] Telephone 7 Peter von Reichbauer 477-1007 [email protected] (206) 477-1000, Toll-free: (800) 325-6165 8 Joe McDermott 477-1008 [email protected] Fax: (206) 296-0198 9 Reagan Dunn 477-1009 [email protected] TTY/TDD: (206) 296-1024 The Council’s standing and regional committees The King County Council reviews proposed legisla- Local Services tion through standing committees that oversee specific Meets first and third Mondays at 1:30 pm government functions. Councilmembers also work Chair: Reagan Dunn closely with elected officials from local jurisdictions Vice Chair: Kathy Lambert on three regional committees that address common Members: Claudia Balducci, Girmay Zahilay interests in policy, transit, and water quality. They Mobility and Environment also serve as the Board of Supervisors for the Meets second and fourth Wednesdays at 1:00 pm King County Flood Control District, a special-purpose Chair: Rod Dembowski government. Additionally, individual councilmembers Vice Chair: Peter von Reichbauer serve on a variety of external committees, boards, Members: Claudia Balducci, Kathy Lambert, Jeanne Kohl- and commissions, such as the Board of Health and Welles, Joe McDermott, Dave Upthegrove, Girmay Zahilay the Sound Transit Board. For more information on the committees, including Regional committees descriptions, alternate members, and meeting agendas, please visit www.kingcounty.gov/council/committees. Regional Policy Meets second Wednesday at 3:00 pm Chair: Peter von Reichbauer Council committees Vice Chair: Redmond Mayor Angela Birney Committee of the Whole County
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