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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In my last newsletter, I shared with you that King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget (PSB) issued spending cuts to address its projected $150 million deficit in the 2026-27 biennial budget. At this time, we had just learned that nearly half of these spending cuts were targeted toward essential law enforcement and criminal justice services, including $30.2 million in cuts to the Sheriff’s Office. When I learned of these proposed cuts, I sent a letter to King County leadership calling for a major shift in spending priorities that puts the county’s criminal justice responsibilities first.
I am very displeased to be sharing the following update with you. Unfortunately, due to its budget shortfall, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) has reduced the minimum staffing levels at North Precinct 2 and Southwest Precinct 3 by one deputy per shift, against my objections.
I want to be clear: these cuts to KCSO deputies were made as a direct result of the Executive’s budget reduction targets and an unwillingness to prioritize public safety in the current year. Though the county is claiming they must cut law enforcement spending due to a lack of resources, the truth is that this pre-emptive cut could be avoided by redirecting just $1.4 million of King County’s $10.2 billion budget for 2025—a mere 0.014% of its total funding.
Though the King County Council will receive the Executive’s proposed 2026-27 budget in September, these pre-emptive cuts to KCSO deputies are effective immediately. This is why I am focused on reversing these devastating cuts to law enforcement as soon as possible and am making refunding our Sheriff’s Office my top priority. Our communities deserve access to basic law enforcement services, and I will hold the county accountable to its responsibility to provide those services.
Budget negotiations are still in the early stages, and there will be opportunities around that time to make your voice heard before the Council votes on the budget in November.
I will continue to keep you informed of any developments on this issue and any opportunities to contribute to budget conversations.
All my best,
 Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9
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