Scammers targeting lost pet owners by phone and text
Scammers are contacting owners of lost pets in our area, claiming their pet has been found needing surgery and demanding immediate payment. Some are using AI-generated images of an animal in surgery as “proof.”
These are scams! Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) will never ask you for payment by phone or text to treat your sick or injured pet! Do not send money, provide bank or card info, or use payment apps.
If you think your lost pet is in our shelter, visit kingcounty.gov/LostAPet or stop by in person weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. or weekends noon to 5 p.m. RASKC is located at 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent.
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Attend a Deferred Compensation Plan Board meeting
The King County Deferred Compensation Plan helps employees save for retirement through automatic pre-tax and post-tax contributions. The plan is governed by a nine-member board of current and retired King County employees with the assistance of an independent financial consultant.
The board monitors fund performance, ensures effective and inclusive communication, makes plan policy and design decisions, and ensures compliance with King County’s Strategic Plan for Equity and Social Justice.
The King County Employees Deferred Compensation Plan Board meets on the second Wednesday of every month and all employees and participants are welcome to attend either virtually or in-person.
During a board meeting, you will:
- Learn about the annual work plan
- Hear the quarterly report from Morgan Stanley and T. Rowe Price
- Provide your opinion about the deferred compensation plan
- Have the opportunity to ask questions
Meeting details and location information are posted online a few days before each meeting at Deferred Compensation Plan Board Meeting Agenda. If you have questions about Deferred Compensation Plan Board meetings, or would like a calendar invite, please contact plan administrators at 206-263-9250 or KC Deferred Comp.
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IT Helpdesk (Cherwell) ticketing blackout Aug. 14 to 16, as Neurons prepares for launch
King County’s current IT service management system, Cherwell, will soon be replaced by a new system called Neurons. As part of the cutover, Cherwell will go offline the evening of Aug. 14, creating a temporary ticketing blackout from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday the 16. During this time, employees will not be able to submit new tickets or view existing tickets. After‑hours support will still be available for urgent IT issues.
All tickets submitted before Aug. 14 will be automatically moved into Neurons and will be available again when the new system launches on Monday, Aug. 17.
KCIT will share FAQs and short how to videos to help employees get familiar with Neurons before the launch. Read more.
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Accessing Naloxone (NARCAN®) Nasal Spray in King County
Overdose is the leading cause of preventable injury death in King County, but an easy-to-use nasal spray (naloxone) can save lives. When someone is overdosing, you can be the difference, and you don’t need to be a doctor to help. King County employees are permitted to carry and administer naloxone while on the job, if they so choose. Here’s your guide to finding naloxone in King County and Washington and how to access overdose prevention training.
For those who can, King County encourages accessing naloxone over the counter or through pharmacies with medical insurance, rather than using free sources. This helps ensure adequate availability for our community members who are less resourced.
- Pharmacies: Naloxone can be purchased over the counter or through medical insurance at most pharmacies.
- Naloxone is available over the counter, and major pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and Rite Aid sell a 2-dose box for around $45.
- To use your insurance to buy naloxone, show the pharmacist your insurance card and the State Standing Order for Naloxone. Employees can use their medical benefits to cover the cost but may have a copay. Employees should ask for the generic prescription for a lower co-pay.
- People enrolled in Apple Health can get the kit for free, without a copay.
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Executive Zahilay transmits implementation plan and new name for King County’s behavioral health sales tax
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
The legislation reflects extensive community engagement, modernizes one of King County’s most important behavioral health investments, and renames it the King County Behavioral Health Bridge.
Executive Girmay Zahilay transmitted legislation to the King County Council that would guide one of the County’s largest local investments in behavioral health through 2034, reflecting extensive community engagement to better address the county’s most pressing behavioral health needs. Read more.
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Check out the new Executive’s Corner: Your source for Executive Office updates
Team,
Every day across King County, important decisions are being made, milestones are being reached, and people are doing incredible work to serve our communities. Staying informed about that work, and the priorities guiding it, helps us stay connected as one organization.
That’s why I’m excited to introduce the Executive’s Corner, a new space on the employee intranet where you can find news, announcements, and updates directly from me and the Executive Office.
Whether you’re looking for the latest announcements from the Executive Office, information on our Executive Orders, news releases, leadership information, video messages, or our latest social media posts, the Executive’s Corner brings those resources together in one place. You’ll also find information about our ACTIVATE values, the 4 B’s, our mission and vision, and other resources that reflect the work and priorities of our administration and the work we advance in partnership with each of you. Read more.
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Stars, stripes, and second chances
We’re celebrating 250 years of the red, white, and blue! Adopt any dog or kitten from Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) for just $50 through July 31.
See our selection of adoptable pets here, or visit us at the King County Pet Adoption Center, located at 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent. Adoption hours are noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, and noon to 4 p.m. weekends.
See all the adorable adoptable pets we have waiting for you at kingcounty.gov/AdoptAPet.
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Records Management Reminder: Retain each email in a thread
Each email has unique metadata, including some data we do not even see when viewing our emails in Outlook. When emails are viewed as part of a thread or chain, some of that metadata for the previous emails can be lost.
It is for that reason that state guidance and case law requires that we manage each email, even if the text of those emails are included in a single thread or chain. The exception to that is are emails that are transitory and can be deleted at any time. For more information, review the Email Best Practice guidance.
For more information, visit the County Records and Information Management Program website or contact them at Records.Management@kingcounty.gov. The County Records and Information Management Program (CRIMP), in the Department of Executive Services, provides guidance, resources, and training to all King County employees to assist them with managing King County’s public records according to state and local legal requirements and best practices.
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Mid-year reminder: Make the most of your FSA dollars
We’re halfway through 2026, and it’s a good time to check your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) balances and take steps to make sure you spend your remaining funds before the end of the year. Here’s some additional reminders:
Health Care FSAs
- Use Health Care FSA funds to purchase summer-related items such as sunscreen, first aid kits, and prescription sunglasses.
- Schedule any necessary back-to-school check-ups and sports physicals if you have children.
- Many over-the-counter items are FSA-eligible, such as pain relievers, cold and allergy medicine, antacids, and feminine care. See the complete list of Health Care FSA Eligible and Ineligible Expenses. You can also shop online at the FSA Store.
- This year, you can roll over up to $680 of unused funds into next year. Any other remaining funds in your account are forfeited.
Day Care FSAs
- Use your Day Care FSA to pay for day care or dependent care expenses for your child under age 13, disabled spouse, or dependent parent so you can work or attend school full-time.
- Day Care FSA funds can also be used to pay eligible family members to watch your children.
- See the complete list of Day Care FSA Eligible and Ineligible Expenses.
- If you do not use all your Day Care FSA funds within the plan year (Jan. 1—Dec. 31, 2026), any remaining funds will be forfeited.
For additional information, go to Flexible Spending Accounts. If you have questions about your FSA benefits, contact Navia Benefit Solutions at 425-452-3500 or email Navia Benefit Solutions.
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Bots trying to join your Teams call? Don’t let them in!
King County is seeing an increase in automated “meeting bots” attempting to join Microsoft Teams meetings—sometimes without the meeting organizer’s knowledge. These bots can pose a serious security risk; unauthorized bots may record, transcribe, or export meeting content to external systems, potentially exposing confidential information.
Microsoft Teams now detects many external bots and places them in the meeting lobby, clearly marking them as automated participants. However, human approval is still required: someone in the meeting must choose whether to admit or block the bot.
What you should do:
- If you see a bot appear in the meeting lobby or participant list, do not admit it.
- Only admit attendees you recognize and expect.
- If you are unsure about a participant, ask the meeting organizer before approving entry.
- Avoid using personal or third‑party AI notetaker tools in work meetings unless they have been explicitly approved.
- Be cautious when joining meetings hosted by organizations outside King County. External hosts may use AI notetaking or recording tools, so share only information suitable for external environments.
- Report unexpected bot activity immediately to the KCIT Helpdesk by submitting a ticket or calling (206) 263-HELP.
Every employee plays an important role in maintaining public trust through responsible stewardship of our data and systems (see King County’s ACTIVATE values). Thank you for staying vigilant and helping to ensure sensitive conversations remain secure.
Employee News 