Your Weekly Update on What's Happening at the King County Council  

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Recently, I joined King County Executive Girmay Zahilay for the announcement of a new Executive Order to strengthen King County’s governance and financial management practices. The Executive Order calls for stronger cost controls and establishes governance practices that promote better accountability and transparency.

This is a win for government accountability and efficiency. I appreciate Executive Zahilay’s commitment to strengthening financial controls and his willingness to work with the Council to ensure King County is making the most of every public dollar spent. These efforts are good government practices that will provide greater accountability and help protect the long-term fiscal health of the County.

Read the Seattle Times Editorial about the order here.

Councilmembers Reagan Dunn, Sarah Perry, and Rod Dembowski join Executive Zahilay for the announcement of an Executive Order related to government efficiency (Photo Courtesy of Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times).

Key actions of the Executive Order include: 

• Establishing a new internal audit function within the Executive’s Office to strengthen accountability and oversight across county government.

• Establishing a new Subcabinet of senior leaders from across King County departments to implement Countywide improvements in financial and compliance systems.  

• Improving how the county manages grants distributed to community organizations and partners.

• Expanding ethics and fraud prevention training requirements for County employees who manage and oversee contracts.  

• Establishing baseline Year One metrics for all Executive branch departments.

The Executive Order also directs new actions to strengthen financial management including: 

• Reviewing base budgets in advance of the 2028-2029 budget with the goal of reprioritizing resources to address the County’s highest-priority needs — a process not previously done in King County.

• Identifying cost savings across all Executive branch departments through innovative ways to save taxpayer dollars while minimizing impacts to services for residents.

• Establishing internal budget controls on programs and positions that rely on one-time funding to limit future cost growth.  

• Implementing immediate, targeted cost-saving measures in the current biennium for funds that face deficits in the next several years.  

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

Proclamations of the King County Council

This week, I joined my colleagues in signing on to two special proclamations of the King County Council.

The first proclamation was to recognize this week as Transit Appreciation Week. I remain incredibly grateful for the dedicated operators and workers who keep our communities connected. I’m committed to showing that appreciation through action. That includes advancing the recommendations of the Transit Safety Task Force, created following legislation I sponsored alongside Councilmember Balducci, strengthening fare enforcement, and ensuring consistent police presence on our transit systems.

The second proclamation recognized March 2026 as Women’s History Month. This one is personal to me. Washington was one of the first states in the nation to enact women’s suffrage in 1910, and my mom, Jennifer Dunn, was a pioneer in shattering glass ceilings for women in public office. I remain deeply grateful for leaders like her who inspired not only me, but a generation of young people across Washington and the country.

Free weekend storm debris disposal extended

In order to provide resources to communities who continue to recover from the impacts of the December flooding events, King County Solid Waste has extended free weekend disposal of storm debris through March 22 at three station locations. Free disposal will also be offered at a temporary collection site in Duvall on April 11 and 12. 

Transfer Station drop-off locations through March 22

There will be no charge for flood debris brought to the following stations on Saturdays or Sundays through March 22:

• Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station 18800 Orillia Rd. S, Tukwila Garbage disposal hours Sat-Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Recycling & yard waste area hours Sat-Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station 2300 N 165th St., Shoreline Sat & Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Factoria Recycling and Transfer Station 13800 SE 32nd St, Bellevue, WA 98005 Garbage disposal hours 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Hazardous waste disposal hours  Sat & Sun: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

(Note: Stations will open on a three-hour delay on Sunday, March 22 for a staff training event)

Temporary drop-off location April 11-12

Free flood debris drop-off will be offered at Taylor's Landing in Duvall on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12. 

• Taylor's Landing 16201 Main St. NE, Duvall Disposal hours Sat-Sun: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Guidelines for prohibited and restricted items at transfer stations also apply at temporary drop-off locations.

For a full list of accepted items at each stations, view our Guide to King County Recycling and Transfer Facilities.