Since my last newsletter, my office received questions surrounding the state of our county’s budget. Some of those questions included:  

• What does the budget deficit mean for services?
• Why is there a shortfall in the general fund?
• What actions is the county planning to take to address the shortfall?  

I deeply appreciate your engagement. Your questions made me recognize even more the value of increasing our community’s understanding of the county’s admittedly complex budget. This year, I also have a new role as Vice Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management (BFM) committee, and I plan to invest some time to present information that will hopefully clarify the questions you have posed.  

While we are in the early stages in the budget process, there is still much to be discussed. As new developments arise, I will be sure to share those with you through my communication channels. In the meantime, I invite you to continue sharing any questions you may have regarding the county’s budget.  

Read on for other council updates, news about the upcoming King County Parks Levy, the Crisis Care Centers’ first operator, a reminder to connect with me in the district, and more! 

With gratitude, 

A quick reminder that I will be at the Ballard Branch Library THIS Friday, February 28th from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm for the next installment of our “Brewing Conversations with Jorge,” an opportunity for you to share your priorities and meet with me in person. I invite you to come with your questions, comments, or ideas about how we can improve county services.  

If you are not able to make this session, please note that there will be additional opportunities in the coming months to connect with me.  

If you know you will be stopping by and would like to submit your question(s) in advance, please send them to jorge.baron@kingcounty.gov. 

I hope to see you there! 

Plan your trip! 

• King County Metro 
• Sound Transit 
• Transit GO 
• OneBusAway 

What is My Role in the Budget Process?  

As I noted earlier, I want to take a moment to share with you some background about the county’s budget situation. This year, I will serve as Vice Chair of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee (BFM). This is the committee that will debate budget proposals before sending them to the full Council for a vote, and a role which I requested in the recently completed annual Council organization process. As Vice Chair, I will work closely with Councilmember Rod Dembowski, who has been named Chair of the BFM committee. 

Where I Stand 

Given what we know about status of the county’s budget, I expect this will be a challenging year and that my colleagues and I will need to make difficult decisions. I’m mindful that vital services on which residents depend on will be at risk because of how they are funded. 

As we confront these challenges, my approach will be to center the need to protect the health and safety of every community member and to do so consistent with our community’s values. I also plan to share information and highlight opportunities for King County residents to understand and be engaged in the budget process. The decisions that we face must be informed by community voices, and the solutions we identify ideally should not put us back in the same situation in future budget cycles.

Dedicated Funds vs. General Fund 

When you hear about “The County Budget”, it’s important to keep in mind that it is actually composed of more than 100 individual budgets. Each of these budgets has its own requirements, but one way to think about them is in terms of Dedicated Funds and General Funds.  

Dedicated funds refer to funds that have limitations and specific uses, dictated either by state or federal law; these make up 86% of the county's operating budget. Services such as transit, wastewater treatment, and voter-approved programs such as the Emergency Medical Services and Crisis Care Centers are supported by dedicated funds. Due to these strict rules, these dollars cannot be moved into other areas of the budget.    

The remaining 14% is the “General Fund”. These funds do not have the restrictions placed on dedicated funds and King County has the most flexibility in deciding how they are spent. This is the portion of the county’s budget in which a significant shortfall is expected in the upcoming budget cycle, and which will pose challenges to vital services in the years to come.  

Now that we have distinguished these two buckets of revenue, we can move on to explain what the general fund supports, what factors are negatively affecting the revenue in the general fund, and more.

What is the General Fund? 

The general fund is the only funding source that allows the county to provide support to important services and programs that would otherwise lack funding. These funds are primarily used to financially support a wide range of services such as in the areas listed below.  

• Sheriff’s Office 
• Superior & District Courts
• Prosecuting Attorney’s Office 
• Department of Public Defense
• Adult and Juvenile Detention
• Assessor’s Office
• Elections 

Many of these services are mandated by the state but are not funded with state resources, such as in the area of justice and safety, where nearly 71% of the general fund is invested. While we are legally mandated to continue each of these essential services, there are other areas of the general fund budget that are not mandated but are important local priorities, including critical public health and human services. Those areas are also at great risk under the current budget structure.

King County Parks Levy Renewal 

This month, King County Executive Dow Constantine shared his proposal to renew the King County Parks Levy, as the current version is expiring at the end of this year. The Executive’s proposal would expand King County Parks’ capacity for maintenance and safety; enhance ballfields, playgrounds, and aquatic centers; protect and restore more open spaces for a growing population; and accelerate the expansion of regional trails that connect to public transit. The proposal will be before the Council in the coming months for review and, if approved by the Council, would be submitted to the voters for their consideration during the August election. 

What is it?  

This levy is a six-year, voter-approved property tax that keeps both city and regional parks, trails, and open spaces available for everyone. Regardless of where you reside in King County, the Parks Levy helps support your local parks and trails.

King County Selects First Crisis Care Center Operator 

In 2023, King County voters passed the Crisis Care Centers Levy, which will drastically expand our county’s response to the behavioral health crisis. Over the course of the levy, this source will fund a countywide network of five crisis care centers, restore, and expand mental health residential treatment beds, and strengthen the behavioral health workforce.  

Earlier this month, we marked an exciting milestone in this process. On February 12, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) designated a Kirkland behavioral health facility operated by Connections Health Solutions as the first of the planned Crisis Care Centers. While this facility has been open since August, the building will now be owned, and operations will be contracted by King County. As a Crisis Care Center provider, the operator will be able to access capital and operations funds, including additional support to attract and retain a qualified workforce to this site.  

We are hopeful that the county will identify operators and locations for the second and third crisis care center by the end of this year. Pursuant to the implementation plan adopted by the Council last year, the county’s intent is to open all five funded crisis care centers by 2030 (or earlier, if possible). The centers will be spread throughout the county to ensure that our community members in crisis can access services in a location most convenient to where they live and work regardless of their ability to pay.

Reminder to Tap When Riding Transit  

We wanted to share another reminder that, beginning on March 31st, Metro’s Fare Resource Advocates will ask riders for proof of fare payment. Initially, officers will offer friendly, verbal reminders to riders who did not pay. Later in the year, Metro will begin to issue fines or use alternative resolutions for riders who have received warnings. 

Law and Justice Committee 

NW Seattle Homelessness Services Visit  

I was thrilled to join King County Regional Homelessness Authority's (KCRHA) CEO Dr. Kelly Kinnison on a visit with some of our homelessness providers in northwest Seattle. We had the opportunity to connect with leaders from the Ballard Food Bank, Catholic Community Services, and REACH to hear more about the critical work they are doing to stabilize our unhoused neighbors in District 4. Our providers were able to give recommendations to Dr. Kinnison and myself about needed improvements to the efficacy of our homelessness response system, including shelter referrals, behavioral health integration, and contract improvements. I look forward to working with city, county, and KCRHA partners to move towards a system that more quickly and compassionately addresses the need of our unsheltered neighbors. 

Stopping by the Jefferson Day Center 

I was pleased to join City of Seattle Councilmember Cathy Moore, county council staff, and others for a visit to the Salvation Army’s Jefferson Day Center in Pioneer Square. The Day Center operates with support from the county, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn from their staff about all the important work they are doing at the day center and an adjacent overnight shelter. 

We had an impactful discussion about the urgent need for more shelter beds in King County, especially during the cold winter months. I am committed to working with government and community partners to identifying additional resources for our region’s homelessness response system to ensure that we can bring our neighbors indoors. 

Looking to Serve as a Commissioner? 

The King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission (KCIRC) serves all King County residents and acts as a permanent, advisory body to the executive and legislative branches of King County government. They are looking for commissioners to serve on a volunteer basis to work together to identify, elevate, and develop shared strategies and solutions to address the most pressing issues affecting immigrant and refugee communities. If you have been searching for ways to be involved in your community, this could be a perfect opportunity.  

If you have any questions, need language or technical assistance, reach out to kcirc@kingcounty.gov or Tera.Chea2@kingcounty.gov. 

Take a Trip with Metro to the Pacific Science Center 

2025 Parks Levy Grants 

Applications are now available for the 2025 Parks Levy Grants for the following programs: Aquatic Facilities, Parks Capital and Open Space, River Corridors - Open Space, and Healthy Communities and Parks Fund. These grant programs aim to preserve and increase access and equity by supporting communities and partners who are investing in parks, trails, open spaces, recreational facilities, and programming.  

Submit your application by Monday, March 31st at 9 am.  

Available Grants for Artists  

Artists and art groups all over King County use the Art Projects grants to create and share their work of any discipline or medium. 4Culture is currently offering up to $15,000 in grant funding to help make your project a reality! 

Submit your application by Wednesday, March 12th at 5 pm.   

Resources for the Immigrant Community  

The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) and partners at Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) recorded a training on how to build an immigration safety plan for families who may need one.