Your guide to the Metropolitan King County Council 2011 Seated (from left): Larry Phillips, Julia Patterson, Larry Gossett (Council Chair), Jane Hague (Council Vice Chair), and Peter von Reichbauer. Standing (from left): Kathy Lambert, Bob Ferguson, Joe McDermott, and Reagan Dunn. As your Metropolitan King County Council, we oversee • wastewater treatment and solid waste management; the 14th most populous county in the nation and the • regional parks, open space and trails; and second largest government in Washington State. With • elections, records, and licensing. 1.93 million people living within 2,134 square miles, King County has a population larger than 14 states and The nine members of the King County Council each covers more territory than the state of Delaware. represent a geographic district of about 200,000 residents. Councilmembers are elected on a Our dedicated employees provide quality regional non-partisan basis and serve four-year terms. services every day to county residents. We are also the local government for the 305,000 people who live in The Council has four standing committees that oversee the urban and rural unincorporated areas and provide specific government functions, and a Committee of the services by contract to many of the county’s 39 cities. Whole that includes all Councilmembers and examines issues of interest to the entire Council. As the legislative branch of county government, the Council sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets We also work closely with elected officials from local that guide an array of services for this region, including: jurisdictions on three regional committees that address our common interests in matters of policy, transit, and • the criminal justice system of prosecutors and public water quality. defenders, District and Superior Courts, juvenile detention and adult jails; Every year, the Council reviews every ordinance, • the King County Sheriff’s Office, which directly serves motion, and budget to ensure that the County residents of unincorporated areas and contracts with continues to operate in a cost-effective and efficient many cities to provide police protection; manner. • public health and human services; • Metro Transit bus service and county roads; Get agendas, minutes, and meeting videos online at: www.kingcounty.gov/council Message from the Council Chair King County is an rural communities given dropping tax revenue? immensely diverse commu- And how do we encourage growth of our regional nity of nearly two million economy for the benefit of the hundreds of thousands people living together in a of working families in our neighborhoods? region larger than the State of Delaware. We are the You have a role in the decisions we need to make legislative branch of its this year. Regardless of where you live or work in the regional government. County, we need to hear from you. Please feel free to In 2011, we face many call or email me and the other eight members of the Larry Gossett challenges. Chief among council to express your concerns. Council Chair these is our ability to I look forward to leading the King County Council, as maintain a wide range we address these and a myriad of other public policy of critically needed regional services in the face of issues likely to confront our government in the months shrinking revenues. to come. How do we keep our rapidly growing metro bus system together in light of serious budget reductions? How might we adequately maintain police services in Council Chair and Councilmember for District 2 Understanding the county budget King County is the collector of property taxes for all taxing districts within the County. Although the Where your property tax dollar goes property tax check you write is payable to the County, 50.5 ¢ it receives only 17 cents of every dollar. The rest go to other agencies (as illustrated by the bar graph). The county budget is composed of two types of funds: dedicated funds and the general fund. Dedicated funds 17¢ 17.5 ¢ are the largest portion at 87% of the total budget. By 13 ¢ law, these funds are restricted to specific purposes, 2 ¢ such as transit, sewage treatment, and voter-approved programs. Port of Other King Cities & Schools Seattle districts County Towns The discretionary portion of the county budget is the general fund, which amounts to 13% of the total budget. These funds pay for critical day-to-day services General fund expenditures for 2011 not supported by other revenues. Over three quar- ters of the general fund, 77%, goes to pay for criminal Other, 2% justice and public safety services mandated by the State Facilities maintenace, 1% (see pie chart). The remainder must fund other Law, safety, services, such as Elections and the Assessor’s Office. and justice, General government and 77% county services, 16% Counties across Washington State face a structural gap Physical environment, <1% between revenue and cost of services. Since the State’s enactment of the one percent cap on revenues that Public health, 4% began in 2002, King County has experienced deficits totaling $384 million. Recent deficits were $59 million More information at www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget in 2011 and $56 million in 2010. The projected deficit for 2012 is $20 million. King County’s urban and rural landscape Incorporated city Urban unincorporated community Unincorporated King County Council district boundary Major urban unincorporated areas Eastgate East Federal Way East Renton Fairwood Juanita / Finn Hill / Kingsgate (to be annexed to City of Kirkland in June) Klahanie West Hill / Skyway White Center / Top Hat Contact information Which Council district do I live in? The King County Council meets Mondays Clerk of the Council Enter your address at at 1:30 p.m. on the 10th floor of the King E-mail: [email protected] www.kingcounty.gov/ County Courthouse. You can watch all Telephone: (206) 296-0364 council/councilmembers meetings held in the chambers live on King County TV, cable channel 22, and online at Online our Web site. Agendas, minutes, and archived Visit the Council website to find a link to video of past meetings are also available our Facebook page and sign up to follow us on Twitter. online at www.kingcounty.gov/council. Dist. Councilmember Phone E-mail Mailing address Metropolitan King County Council 1 Bob Ferguson 296-1001 [email protected] King County Courthouse 2 Larry Gossett 296-1002 [email protected] 516 Third Avenue, 12th Floor 3 Kathy Lambert 296-1003 [email protected] Seattle, WA 98104-3272 4 Larry Phillips 296-1004 [email protected] 5 Julia Patterson 296-1005 [email protected] Telephone 6 Jane Hague 296-1006 [email protected] (206) 296-1000, Toll-free: (800) 325-6165 7 Peter von Reichbauer 296-1007 [email protected] Fax: (206) 296-0198 8 Joe McDermott 296-1008 [email protected] TTY/TDD: (206) 296-1024 9 Reagan Dunn 296-1009 [email protected] Committees and special governments The King County Council reviews proposed legisla- Regional committees tion through a number of standing committees that oversee specific government functions. Councilmem- Regional Policy bers work closely with elected officials from local juris- Countywide plans and policies on issues such as human services, solid waste, public health, and criminal justice. dictions on regional committees that address common Second Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. interests in policy, transit, and water quality. In addition, Chair: Peter von Reichbauer Councilmembers serve as the Board of Supervisors Vice Chair: Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis of two special-purpose governments, created under Members: Bob Ferguson, Joe McDermott authority provided by the State Legislature. Suburban Cities Association Members: Federal Way Deputy Mayor Dini Duclos, Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, Lake Council committees Forest Park Deputy Mayor Dwight Thompson City of Seattle Members: Councilmember Tim Burgess, Committee of the Whole Councilmember Sally Clark Legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire Council. First and third Monday at 9:30 a.m. and special meetings as Regional Transit needed. Countywide plans and policies pertaining to King County Chair: Jane Hague Metro Transit services and facilities. Vice Chair: Larry Phillips Third Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Members: All Councilmembers Chair: Reagan Dunn Vice Chair: Federal Way City Councilmember Jeanne Budget and Fiscal Management Burbidge Capital and operating appropriations, fiscal structural gap Members: Julia Patterson, Larry Phillips, between county revenues and costs, and oversight of annual Suburban Cities Association Members: Redmond City county budget. Councilmember Kimberly Allen, Kenmore Mayor David Baker, First and third Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Issaquah City Councilmember Fred Butler, Burien Mayor Joan Chair: Julia Patterson McGilton, Algona Mayor Dave Hill, Renton City Council- Vice Chair: Kathy Lambert member Marcie Palmer, Kirkland City Council- Members: Reagan Dunn, Jane Hague, Joe McDermott, Larry member Bob Sternoff Phillips City of Seattle Members: Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen Government Accountability and Oversight Strategic planning, performance management and measure- Regional Water Quality ment, technology, tax assessment, and elections. Plans and policies for construction, operation, and financing of First and third Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. wastewater treatment facilities; other water quality concerns. Chair: Kathy Lambert First Wednesdays at 3:00