Good afternoon, team, 

This morning, I hosted a press conference to announce several actions our administration is taking to strengthen county government, prepare for the challenging budget forecasts that lie ahead, continue improving how we manage public funds, and identify savings opportunities. 

Today also marks my first 100 days in office since our inauguration on November 25. I say our inauguration because this is a team sport. Our shared success as King County government is dependent upon one another. 

One thing I know for certain is that King County’s workforce is one of the best in the country and is widely recognized for its effectiveness and innovation. I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed being out in the field across the county with so many different departments and teams as I continue to learn more about our work and all of you. 

At the same time, we know that we are facing real structural challenges — from the one percent property tax cap and rising inflation to federal funding cuts and growing community needs that become more complex each year. Strengthening how we manage our resources will help ensure King County government can continue delivering the services our communities rely on now, and in the years ahead.  

I often talk about my 4 B’s for a better future, and today’s Executive Order advances the fourth B: Better Government. When I talk about better government, it starts with you — a workforce that is nationally recognized for continuously improving public services. But even with your hard work, innovation, and dedication powering our government, some departments are experiencing demands that have grown rapidly and outpaced resources, as well as administrative and oversight infrastructure. At the same time, some of King County’s largest funds are distressed and projecting significant shortfalls over the next few years. This is why we are acting now. 

Key actions announced in my Executive Order include: 

• Establishing a new internal audit function within the Executive’s Office to strengthen accountability and oversight across county government. The Internal Audit Director, who begins in the Executive Office at the end of March, will initially prioritize working with departments currently addressing open audit findings. 

• Establishing a new Subcabinet of senior leaders from across King County departments to implement Countywide improvements in financial and compliance systems that improve organizational effectiveness, risk management and help prevent future fraud and waste.  

• Improving how the county manages grants distributed to community organizations and partners by strengthening internal controls for grants to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws, while prioritizing timely distribution of funding.   

• 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 to track and measure whether County investments are producing their intended outcomes over time. 

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. Historically, upwards of 90 percent of previous budgets rolls forward into the next biennium and most changes only happen at the margins. 

• 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. 

Please see our press release here to learn more about actions in the Executive Order, and if you have a few moments, check out a recording from our press conference where we were joined by King County Councilmembers, our independent King County Auditor, Department leadership, and community members.  

I look forward to continuing to work closely with employees across the County and our labor partners to implement these stronger governance practices, so our workforce has the tools and support it needs to succeed as we meet the needs of our community.