Executive Constantine announces his 2025 budget proposal, highlighting key investments in housing, health, safety, transportation, climate, and the environment
King County Executive Dow Constantine yesterday announced his 2025 budget proposal totaling $10.2 billion. The budget prioritizes key investments in housing, health, safety, transportation, climate action, and the environment, and demonstrates a commitment to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
The budget proposal is a road map to King County’s vision and values based on transforming the way government operates, solving problems effectively and efficiently, with equity and accountability, to best deliver services to all residents.
“This 2025 budget reflects King County’s commitment to creating innovative solutions to our most pressing challenges. We’ve balanced the budget, making careful cuts while strategically investing in key areas to deliver essential services for our residents,” said Executive Constantine. Read more.
Executive Constantine announces proposal to preserve the county’s public health clinics, further sustain Harborview Medical Center’s operations and maintenance
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced on Sept. 19 a proposal to preserve and fund the county’s public health clinics and further maintain operations and maintenance for the county hospital, Harborview Medical Center. The proposal is part of Executive Constantine’s 2025 budget and, if approved by the King County Council, would utilize a modified county hospital property tax authority approved by the state Legislature earlier this year.
The proposal would levy an 8.5 cent tax that would raise $74.6 million for the 2025 budget, eliminating the need for public health clinic services to be covered by the county’s General Fund and increasing funding to maintain operations, maintenance, and capital projects at HMC.
Matt Sanders appointed Interim Director for the King County Department of Public Defense
Last week, DPD Director Anita Khandelwal tendered her resignation to Executive Constantine, effective October 4. Matt Sanders, who has led DPD’s Associated Counsel for the Accused, (ACA), Division as its Managing Attorney for the last two years. He was appointed to serve as Interim Director while the Executive’s Office conducts a national recruitment for a permanent Director of the Department of Public Defense.
“I am energized by the opportunity to work with each of you in this new role and to continue the outstanding work we do every day,” Sanders said in an email to staff upon accepting the appointment. “My priority is to ensure that DPD remains a place where excellence in representation is not just an aspiration, but a reality for our clients.”Read more.
Committed to public service: Honoring the Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellows
Join us in celebrating King County Metro’s Pauline Estrella, recently honored by the King County Council as one of several prestigious Ruth Woo Fellows.
Estrella worked with Metro staff on World Cup transportation planning and other efforts during her 2023-2024 fellowship.
Their dedication throughout this fellowship exemplifies a commitment to public service and advocacy for underserved communities.
Diversity in leadership
Civic leader Ruth Woo recruited diverse leaders to serve in local government. King County’s Ruth Woo Fellowship continues to recruit the leaders of tomorrow. Read more.
Announcements
Register for upcoming onsite King County flu and COVID-19 clinics
Getting your updated flu and COVID-19 shots is an important part of protecting your health, your family’s health, and your community’s health. Each year, King County’s Balanced You arranges onsite flu and COVID-19 shot clinics for employees who work onsite.
You will need to register for the onsite clinics. You are welcome to walk-in, but you will still need to register to receive shots, so please do so prior to the clinics. The following are upcoming onsite clinics:
Renton Roads, J Building Large Conf Room, 155 Monroe Ave NE, Renton, WA 98056, Monday, Sept. 30, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Bellevue Bus Base, Classroom A, 1790 124th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005, Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 10:30 a.m. to noon
Rail Division, Alaska Junction Conf Room, Downtown, 3407 Airport Way S Seattle, WA 98134, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 2 5:30 to 7 a.m.
KCIA – Boeing Field, 106 Conf. Room, 7277 Perimeter Rd S Seattle, WA 98101, Thursday, Oct. 3, from 9 to 10 a.m.
South Bus Base, Classrooms A & B, 12100 E Marginal Way S Seattle, WA 98168, Thursday, Oct. 3, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 to 8:30 a.m.
Click here to register and for your appointment. This Balanced You blog post shares more information about additional locations, times, and how to schedule an appointment.
How King County is reducing waste generated by building demolition and creating more equitable access to green jobs
A new training program offered by King County is helping the local construction industry transition from demolition to deconstruction, a modern approach that dramatically decreases the amount a material the ends up in the regional landfill while creating more equitable access to green jobs.
Unlike traditional demolition that relies on heavy machinery to turn buildings into piles of mixed debris, deconstruction carefully dismantles structures so materials can be salvaged and put back into the economy or, in some cases, completely rebuilt or relocated. The approach taught by King County can reduce the amount of valuable material that ends up in a landfill by up to 90%.
As we step into fall, King County Metro, in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Sound Transit and Lime, is offering a new exciting promotion for those connecting their rides on shared bikes or scooters with public transit. Whether you’re hopping on a bus or catching the Link light rail, you can now earn rewards just by riding and parking at certain transit hubs.
What’s new this year?
Launched on Sept. 16, the Bike and Scoot to Transit pilot now makes it even easier to ride transit and get rewarded. Read more.
Balanced You Conversations: Veterans mental health
Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Educator with the Balanced You team talks with Taylor Nguyen, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate with Wellness x Design. They discuss veterans' mental health including suicide prevention, signs, and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, how to support loved ones, and more.
Balanced You Self-care Webinar: Balancing Your Financial and Emotional Well-being in the Workplace, Oct. 3
According to a survey by Bankrate.com, more than half of Americans said money has a negative impact on their mental health. Balanced You welcomes back Tiffany Willis, Senior Financial Wellness Speaker with My Secure Advantage. She will share how your financial well-being can affect your emotional well-being and give tips on how to increase your income, create a simple budget, establish a financial recovery plan, and more.
Building Gender Inclusive Spaces (BGIS): Supporting Trans & Non-Binary People in the Workplace – Online – In this three-hour workshop, participants will learn about the long history of gender diverse peoples across the globe, foundational knowledge of gender and sexuality, and best practices to support a gender diverse workforce. Participants will have the opportunity to move through real-life scenarios, apply their understanding of pronoun use, and develop strategies to advance gender equity at King County. Our next session still has openings.
Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. Enroll here.(2.75 SHRM PDC)
Brain-based Time Management – Online – Are you overwhelmed by your To Do list(s)? Find out what your brain needs to: keep all your tasks in perspective, prioritize, and have a clear path to get them finished. This class includes information about multitasking, a mindfulness practice to reduce physical stress, and techniques to work with interruptions and distractions. We will also practice effective weekly planning.
Monday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fees apply. Enroll here.
Location: Chinook Building, 401 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2024CF22416
Department: DPH - Public Health
Division: Administrative Services
Opening Date: 9/23/2024
Closing Date: 10/14/2024 11:59 p.m.
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3: KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC) is seeking a Disability Equity and ADA Manager (Project/Program Manager III) who will bring their lived experiences as well as their technical knowledge to provide subject matter expertise and policy guidance to the Office of Equity and Community Partnerships in the Director’s Office of Public Health – Seattle & King County. The position will support Public Health in furtherance of its commitment to providing equitable and accessible services in all of its programs and services by applying their knowledge of Title II of the ADA. The person in this position will lead a self-evaluation and transition plan of current services, policies and practices that do not or may not meet the requirements of Title II. The Disability Equity and ADA Manager will ensure that the needs of people living with disabilities are incorporated into the department’s work to reduce and eliminate racial/ethnic disparities, as well as disparities for people with disabilities.
