$617 Million Budget Proposal Heads To King County Council

Renton WA

30 September, 2021

4:59 PM

Description

KING COUNTY, WA — King County Executive Dow Constantine delivered a $617 million supplemental budget proposal to the council on Thursday, outlining an array of adjustments and additions to the $12.6 billion 2021-2022 budget. According to the county, officials use "mid-biennial" budgets to account for changing economic circumstances, including updated revenue forecasts, newly available grants and other boosts to funding. Some of the big-ticket items in Constantine's latest proposal are $66 million to speed up the electrification of metro buses and water taxis, $45 million to help preserve 1,900 acres of open space and $20 million to fund Climate Equity Bonds. Other investments include more than $3 million for gun violence reduction programs. "The past two years have proved what we've been saying: That we can't wait — not on climate, not on early childhood education and not on remaking public safety — and the investments in this budget will create a more equitable, just, prosperous King County," Constantine said in a statement. "We are focusing our funds on making transportation more efficient and accessible, ramping up Mental Illness and Drug Dependency treatment, prioritizing our environment through preservation and climate equity bonds, and investing in King County's future." Here are the mid-biennial budget highlights from Constantine's office: $65.8 million to accelerate Metro bus electrification from 2040 to 2035, including investments in base electrification and electrification of Water Taxis and Access vehicles.$20 million of Climate Equity bond funds for projects identified with community partners to support frontline communities disproportionately affected by climate change and increase opportunities for those communities to benefit from emissions reductions and energy efficiency.$3.1 million for expanded regional gun violence and peacekeeping efforts, including additional community outreach, violence interrupters, and life coaches.$4.3 million for the new adult felony Community Diversion Program, including resources for a loss recovery fund that provides financial supports for harmed parties; assessment and referral staff; and community-based service contracts.$17.3 million in Mental Illness and Drug Dependency (MIDD) to restore program cuts and some program expansion driven by increased sales tax revenue projections.$5.5 million to accelerate work on culvert replacement and sidewalks in lower-income neighborhoods in unincorporated King County funded by additional excise tax funds.Restoration of undesignated fund balance in the General Fund to 8% and the Rainy Day Reserve in the MIDD Fund to 60 days due to increased sales tax projections.Appropriation of an additional $126.6 million for Best Starts for Kids (BSK) funds, consistent with the passage of the BSK levy by King County voters in August and the implementation plan.$45 million for the preservation of over 1,900 acres of open space throughout King County.$1.5 million to expand access to dental care for low-income, uninsured adults in King County regardless of citizenship status, funding 4,000 to 5,000 dental visits at community health centers.$1.4 million for investments in the Office of Equity and Social Justice supporting community engagement, disability equity, and Office policy and operations; this includes the use of one-time funds from the City of Seattle to support the Coalition Against Hate and Bias. The Metropolitan King County Council received the budget Thursday and will discuss it further in the coming weeks. More information about the larger 2021-2022 budget is available on the county's website.