Update on the budget process and next steps
Dear employee,
Back in late April, Executive Constantine emailed you about the unavoidable budget cuts facing the County’s General Fund.
As the Executive explained, state law prohibits more than a 1% annual increase in the property tax. When inflation grows, that law prevents us from keeping up with rising costs, and inflation has been as high as 9.5% in recent years.
King County was able to pass a two-year budget last year, and while the overall budget is healthy, it’s based on several funding sources. One key component – the General Fund – faces increased expenses due to inflation and with the projected shortfall in this critical portion of the budget, we must make proposed cuts beginning this year, which will take effect next year.
Some departments are more reliant on the General Fund than others. The General Fund supports a number of expenses required by the state, like operating a jail and the court system, which cannot be cut. That leaves the remainder of the General Fund to face reductions, which can’t be spread out among the General Fund evenly.
The Executive will send a proposed budget to the County Council this fall to make some of these reductions, which will decrease the size of cuts needed in another budget next year. Starting early will allow time for cuts to be phased in, staff to find other jobs where necessary, and clients to find alternatives to our services where available.
I want to emphasize that no decisions have been made yet. Executive Constantine will send his recommendations to the County Council in early October.
The planning instructions agencies received last month included budget goals to meet, and each agency will find the best solution to balance the needs of the people we serve and create the smallest impact on our work, and our colleagues. This could potentially include making reductions or finding savings elsewhere by eliminating open positions or not filling vacant positions. However, it is likely some filled positions will be eliminated next year.
Departments will develop plans that meet their target goals and send those to the budget planners, who will then work on building a proposed budget for the Executive. This budget will not be final until the Council passes it.
I know this can be an anxious time and uncertainty can be stressful. We will continue to support you in your employee experience here at King County. I encourage everyone to work with their supervisors and the HR team to help address any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Dwight Dively, Budget Director
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WA Cares Fund paycheck deductions begin July 6
Beginning July 6, you will see a mandatory payroll deduction on your paystub for the state’s new WA Cares Fund long-term care insurance program. Here’s how the deduction will appear on your paystub:
The premium is 0.58% of gross wages (58 cents per $100). The initial maximum value of the benefit will be $36,500 (adjusted annually for inflation).
Submit WA Cares Fund exemption letters to King County by June 26
Some employees may be eligible for a permanent or conditional exemption from the WA Cares Fund. To learn more, go to Exemptions.
If you already submitted your approved exemption letter to King County, you should have received a confirmation email from King County Central Payroll. No further action is required.
If you have been approved for an exemption and did not receive an email from Payroll, submit your approved exemption letter from the ESD no later than June 26, 2023, to avoid the non-refundable WA Cares mandatory payroll deduction that begins in July.
Send a copy of your exemption letter and your nine-digit PeopleSoft ID# by email to WA.CARES.Exemption.Letters@kingcounty.gov or by U.S. mail to Central Payroll WA CARES, 401 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
More information
King County does not administer any part of the WA Cares Fund beyond collecting premiums via payroll deduction and reporting employee pay and hours to the ESD. For more information about the program, Contact the WA Cares Fund, go to Learn More, or watch webinar recordings on the WA Cares YouTube Channel.
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Providing support and care for people with substance use disorder: Treatment access in King County
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
In recent years, the pandemic has had a profound effect on mental health and substance use, with increasing numbers of people experiencing anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In 2021, there were over 106,600 deaths due to drug overdose in the U.S. — the highest on record. This reality is felt across the country, including here in King County, where we’ve seen a rise in substance use and overdose deaths. In the face of these tragic impacts, it is important to know where to get help and how to support someone in your community.
King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is acting in partnership with Public Health — Seattle & King County to bring more treatment and resources to communities around the county. Read more.
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Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month for March and April 2023
They are our “rolling ambassadors,” the kind, courteous and helpful smile that greets you every day when you ride with us.
Outside of work, they enjoy listening to live music, traveling, astronomy, motorcycle drag racing, and remote-control car racing!
They represent more than two centuries of experience behind the wheel. The operators who drive your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back to their community. Meet your Metro Operators of the Month for March and April here.
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Three short walks
Cross-posted from King County Parks
As the spring weather finally warms up, King County Parks offers some great options to explore hiking in scenic, shaded landscapes. Whether making a short daytrip to Vashon Island or birdwatching in Marymoor Park, these short walks will get you immersed back in touch with nature in no time.
To be specific by what we mean by “short,” all the walks on this list clock in at around 1.5 miles or less. Read more.
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Regional solutions to reduce stormwater pollution
From the Department of Natural Resources and Parks
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently hosted a regional summit with Tribal leaders, state and federal agency leaders, water quality experts, university researchers, and cities and counties throughout Central Puget Sound to pursue regional solutions to stormwater pollution, one of the greatest threats to water quality in the Puget Sound watershed.
“Reducing the stormwater pollution that threatens the health of people, wildlife and Puget Sound requires collaboration, creativity, and commitment throughout the entire watershed,” said Executive Constantine. Read more here and watch the video below.
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Executive Constantine announces winners of the 2023 Green Globe Award
The Green Globe Award is King County’s highest honor for environmental stewardship. Eleven individuals and organizations from across King County were recently honored by Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks with a 2023 Green Globe Award for outstanding work to protect and restore the environment, and contributing to a more resilient, sustainable, more equitable King County. Read more here and and watch the video below.
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King County Executive and County Council proclaim June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth
In recognition that Juneteenth commemorates the traditional observance of the end of slavery in the United States and that the King County Council adopted Ordinance 19209 on November 17, 2020, making Juneteenth an official holiday for King County employees, Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council have declared June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth. Read the full proclamation below.
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DES Director Caroline Whalen announces retirement after 29-year career
Caroline Whalen, Director of the Department of Executive Services (DES), has announced that she will retire from King County in early September 2023.
“I appointed Caroline our DES Director back in 2010 and she has proved time and again to be one of King County’s most effective and respected leaders, one who leads by example with both words and actions,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. “As sad as I am to see Caroline go after a stellar 29-year King County career, I am incredibly grateful for her many years of service and counsel. She will be sorely missed.”
Caroline was an early adopter of Lean, working to foster a culture of continuous improvement and standard work in DES, and this culture remains deeply embedded in DES today. She was honored with the 2019 Fred Jarrett Leadership Excellence Award in recognition of her exemplary leadership, embodiment of our values, and best-run government approach to her work. Earlier this year, Caroline was instrumental in the launch of the King County Customer Service Center, which opened to the public on April 20. Caroline provided leadership and strategic direction for the project, which delivered a new “one-stop shop” at King Street Center for many of the county’s most-requested services – just one of her many achievements for the County.
An internal process to identify the next DES Director will begin soon, who is expected to be on board before Caroline’s retirement to ensure a smooth, seamless transition.
Please join us in thanking and congratulating Caroline and wishing her the best in her next endeavors.
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State retirement plan contributions change July 1, 2023
Employer contribution rates for some of the following retirement plans will change on July 1, 2023, as approved by the State Legislature. The state Pension Funding Council adjusts contribution rates, as needed, to fund the retirement benefits earned by members.
The PERS employer rate will change to 9.39% for all PERS plans. There were no changes to the LEOFF plans. The PSERS employer rate will be 9.63%.
You will see the new employer contribution amounts under employer-paid benefits on your paystub beginning July 20, 2023.
More information is available on the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) website. If you have any questions about the rate change, please contact DRS at 800-547-6657 or recep@drs.wa.gov.
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