Making Life Easier online support groups
Making Life Easier (MLE) offers virtual, drop-in support group sessions on a variety of topics. When you are dealing with a challenge at home or work, group support can offer perspective, encouragement and, most importantly, the reassurance that you are not alone. MLE’s virtual support groups offer you the opportunity to join live, moderated sessions on a wide variety of topics to help strengthen your emotional fitness. Sample group topics include recovering from addiction, coping with stress, and supporting mental health for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Your participation in these groups is anonymous, ensuring you feel comfortable sharing your experiences. To join a virtual support group, sign into the Making Life Easier web portal at the link below, choose the “Access Care” icon, then choose the “Digital Support Group” icon.
From there, you will:
- Create a username and select an avatar. All meetings are completely anonymous.
- Choose a topic and session date and time that works best for you.
- Participate in activities, answer questions and provide feedback anonymously by exchanging texts with the moderator.
Sign into Making Life Easier now.
Share this:
Tim Anderson promoted to lead Regional Animal Services of King County
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
After a competitive nationwide search, Tim Anderson has been chosen as the new manager of Regional Animal Services of King County. He takes over for Dr. Gene Mueller, who retired in December 2024.
“We cast a wide net to find our next leader for Regional Animal Services, and we were fortunate to have an exceptional candidate among our own leadership,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “I know that Tim will uphold our commitment to providing outstanding service to the people and pets of King County.”
“I’m grateful for this opportunity to lead one of the premier animal care and control agencies in the nation,” Anderson said. “We’ve built a great program here, and I’m proud of our outreach to historically underserved communities. As manager, I will continue to prioritize partnerships that help make RASKC more accessible, inclusive, and responsive.” Read more.
Share this:
Don’t blow it, cut the fuse: Consumer fireworks banned in unincorporated King County
Crossposted from King County Local
As the July 4th holiday nears, Local Services reminds everyone that the use and sale of consumer fireworks are prohibited in the unincorporated areas of King County, including communities such as White Center, Skyway, East Federal Way, Fairwood, and the East Renton area.
“Although the Fourth of July is a time for celebration, King County, along with many other communities in the region, recognizes that consumer fireworks present an unacceptable level of risk and harm. To help protect our loved ones, our first responders, pets, property, and neighborhoods, I want to remind everyone that fireworks are prohibited within unincorporated King County. Instead, I encourage residents to celebrate safely by attending a permitted public fireworks show, joining a local community event, or exploring the many other fun and festive ways to enjoy the Fourth of July.” – King County Fire Marshal Eric Urban
Fireworks enforcement will be managed by the Code Enforcement team in the Permitting Division of the Department of Local Services. Code Enforcement will investigate complaints received about illegal fireworks use and/or sales in unincorporated King County. Read more.
Share this:
Longer days are returning, seasonal farmers markets are opening, and the benefits of taking advantage of this season are fruitful
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green
The wait is over: farmers markets are back! Across King County, local farmers, growers, foragers, food businesses, and more will be selling fresh produce, delicious foods, and unique artisanal goods at 40 different markets. On any day of the week, except Monday, there is a farmers market open in King County. To find a market near you, explore our partner, the WA State Farmers Market Association’s Find a Farmers Market tool and navigate to the Regional Farmers Market Directories page to find directories for Seattle and King County. Be sure to pick up a WA State Farmers Market Directory at your market’s Info Booth, too.
Keep reading to learn more about why farmers markets are so important for our local food economy and why we should shop at them. Read more.
Share this:
Hot deals on cool pets this summer!
Summer is here, and what better way to spend those long, sunny days than with a new pet from Regional Animal Services of King County!
Now through July 31, RASKC will have daily pet adoption specials, with a theme for each day of the week. Enjoy these pawsitively awesome discounts on dogs, cats, and all adoptable pets.
- Senior Sundays: $30 adoption fee for all pets over five years old, or for pet adopters 65 and older
- Mixed Breed Mondays: $30 adoption fee for all mixed breed dogs
- Toe Bean Tuesdays: $30 adoption fee for all cats
- Black and Gray Wednesdays: $30 adoption fee for all pets with black or gray coats
- Thirty-Buck Thursdays: Every cat or dog, one adoption fee: $30
- Feline Fridays: $50 adoption fee for kittens under six months
- Staff Pick Saturdays: $30 adoption fee for select dogs
“Adopting a pet from RASKC is always a great value, with all pets being microchipped, spayed or neutered, having received initial vaccines, dewormer, and flea treatment,” said RASKC Animal Shelter Manager Alex Ropes. “No matter what kind of companion you’re looking for, we want to help you meet your match at RASKC this summer.” Read more.
Share this:
Second 2025 Professional Development Scholarship application period is open
The second application period for the 2025 Professional Development Scholarship is now open! This application period will remain open from June 2 – July 3, 2025. This application period is to pay for training courses or programs that BEGIN in 2025, OR, for those in a self-paced online degree program, are both taking courses and have tuition and fees to pay during that period.
To apply, visit the scholarship website and click the “APPLY HERE” button. Please familiarize yourself with the eligibility and application requirements before submitting. Previous applicants, please be aware that the application has migrated from NEOGOV to Microsoft Forms, and that some important sections have changed.
Awardees for this period will be notified via email between Aug. 1-8, 2025. Awardees of a scholarship in 2024 are eligible to apply for the 2025 scholarship.
The scholarship is part of the County’s commitment to Investing in YOU and is designed to assist employees represented by a union in the Coalition of Unions with their professional development by providing up to $3,000 in financial assistance towards obtaining training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications.
For more information go to the Professional Development Scholarship website or email ScholarshipFund@kingcounty.gov.
Share this:
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, March-April 2025
Crossposted from Metro Matters
They cook, take trips and root for their grandchildren’s sports teams. They collect comic books, watch retro TV, ride motorcycles, crochet, and work with worms. Some are traveling in the footsteps of relatives who work for transit systems across the county and country. Those who ride with them say “Thanks to the operator who greets me with a big smile,” that they are “always kind and patient,” and have “Such great compassion and understanding for others.”
These operators—with a combined 175 years of transit driving experience—are as unique as you. They also enjoy meeting with their riders and giving back to their communities.
Meet your Operators of the Month for March and April 2025. Read more.
Share this:
Construction to clog northbound I-5 this summer
WSDOT is launching “Revive I-5” work this summer to rehabilitate I-5 and the Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle. Major construction begins this July, lasting about four weeks. Work will continue over the next two years, ending in 2027.
There will be significant northbound I-5 traffic disruptions this summer. During the northbound closures and lane reductions, Express lanes will stay open 24/7 in the northbound direction.
2025 key dates
- June 20 – 23 (Friday night to Monday morning): Northbound I-5 two-lane reduction across Ship Canal Bridge.
- July 18 – 21 (Friday night to Monday morning): Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 interchange to Northeast 45th Street.
- July 21 – Aug. 15: Northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge will be reduced to two lanes, 24/7 for four weeks. The speed limit will be reduced to 50 mph.
- Aug. 15 – Aug. 18 (Friday night to Monday morning): Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 interchange to Northeast 45th Street.
- Aug. 18: All northbound I-5 lanes reopen: Early Monday morning all northbound I-5 lanes will be open to traffic.
Getting to downtown Seattle
- To access downtown Seattle during the full closures, people need to use Edgar Martinez Drive or the Dearborn, James or Madison Street exits (see alternate route map). All other northbound I-5 exits to downtown Seattle will be closed.
- People traveling north of downtown Seattle should use the express lanes or other alternatives.
- People should expect delays in both directions on I-5 during these closures and lane reductions (see map of lane reductions).
Plan Your Commute
- Ride transit: Use your county-issued ORCA card on buses, light rail, some ferries, and more
- Shift your schedule: Travel off-peak hours when you can
- Plan ahead: Explore alternate routes and bypass I-5 detours
- Stay informed: Check live traffic and construction alerts
Resources:
- Learn more about theRevive I-5 Project
- Employee Transportation Program
- WSDOT travel app and social media
Service Alerts – Stay informed about delays, reroutes or closures that may impact transit.
- King County Metro – Service Alerts
- Sound Transit – Service Alerts
- Community Transit – Rider Alerts
- Pierce Transit – Detours and Rider Alerts
- City of Bellevue Transportation – Traffic Advisories
Photo: Courtesy of Seattle Department of Transportation.
Share this:
Discounts for employees for Seattle Storm, The Lion King, and more
Several discounts are available for upcoming events this summer and later this year.
Free admission to Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22: King County employees can get free admission to King County Day at Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22, by bringing their King County badge, displaying their King County email inbox on their phone, or displaying any other generally accepted proof of employment. Employees may bring up to five members of their family (six total free tickets). Tickets will be available for pick-up on Sunday, June 22, in front of the general admission gates from 1 to 4 p.m. Emerald Downs’ address is 2300 Ron Crockett Dr, Auburn, WA 98001 and more information about the track can be found at emeralddowns.com.
Discounts on Summit at Snoqualmie Bike Park and Scenic Ride tickets: King County employees can receive discounts on select tickets when purchased in advance. The Bike Park at Silver Fir is scheduled to open Friday, June 20, with discounts valid through Sept. 25. The Summit West Scenic Rides will open Saturday, July 5, with discounts valid through Sept. 1. Use discount code 2025KingCo at shop.summitatsnoqualmie.com. For more information, view this flyer.
Seattle Storm upcoming games on June 22 and Aug. 30: King County employees are invited to join in attending several Seattle Storm games titled City of Seattle Night. Receive discounted tickets for games on June 22 vs the New York Liberty, and Aug. 30 vs the Chicago Sky at stormgrouptix.com/City. For more information, view this flyer.
Disney’s The Lion King, Dec. 4, 2025 through Jan. 4, 2026: King County employees can also receive discounted tickets for Disney’s The Lion King, playing at the Paramount Theatre December 2025 through January 2026. Discounted tickets can be purchased here, no promo code needed. For more information, view this flyer.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
Share this:
Recipient of Innovation Award for Cost recovered $5 million in delinquent tax revenue
The Personal Property Escalated Collection Team, part of Treasury Operations in the Finance and Business Operations Division of the Department of Executive Services, is the winner of the 2024 Best-Run Government Award for Cost. The award was one of eight announced by Executive Shannon Braddock on May 8.
Through its Outreach to Businesses program, the team worked collaboratively with King County commercial businesses to recover $5.3 million of revenue and fees from 2023 and 2024 delinquent taxes – and reduce the portion of taxes which had become delinquent from 4.06% in 2023 to 2.85% in 2024.
28,000 businesses make up the commercial portion of King County’s personal property tax base. Over the last 10 years, an average of $225 million is billed annually to these business accounts. Prior to 2020, Treasury averaged an annual collection rate of more than 98.2% of tax revenues assessed on King County businesses, and the portion which became delinquent averaged 1.8%.
Beginning in March 2020, thousands of King County businesses were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite countermeasures put in place by the County and the State Legislature from 2020 through 2023 to help taxpayers navigate the COVID-19 crisis, struggling businesses fell behind with their property tax payments. By 2023, the portion which had become delinquent was 4.06%. “Clearly, the solutions that had been offered during and following the pandemic were not addressing the root causes of the problem,” said Nora Bennett, Chief Treasury Officer.
Through team collaboration, in-depth analysis, and “asking the 5 whys” – a problem-solving technique that repeatedly asks the question “why” to get to the root cause of the problem – the Treasury team determined the core of the ongoing challenge for many businesses was prioritizing other financial obligations over tax obligation; not fully understanding property tax law; and lack of knowledge of or hesitancy to explore available options.
In 2023, Treasury initiated a pilot campaign to focus on high-dollar delinquent accounts. The Personal Property Escalated Collection Team was trained to proactively reach out to delinquent customers and personally engage with them via phone calls, email, and in-person interactions to better understand their unique challenges, educate them about their options, and bring their accounts current.
After hearing a kind and constructive tone, taxpayers opened up about their situation and desire to resolve the issue. “In most cases taxpayers just needed an understanding of options available and to have someone walk them through those options,” said Bennett. “Taxpayers felt they had a partner in helping them through the challenge rather than an adversary making demands.”
As a result of this strategic and relational approach, the Personal Property Escalated Collection Team contacted 150 high-dollar delinquent accounts and was able to recover more than $5 million of revenue and fees from delinquent taxes, which go to taxing districts and King County’s General Fund. The pilot campaign was so effective, it evolved into standard work in 2024.
“The innovative approach taken by this team aligns perfectly with our True North and Executive branch values and our division’s emphasis on being problem-solvers with a focus on the customer,” said Ken Guy, director of the Finance and Business Operations Division. “Their interactions with struggling taxpayers helped establish trust and a stronger sense of partnership between the business community and government.”
Congratulations to the Revenue Recovery through Outreach to Businesses Project Team: Ana Schoenecker, Larry James, Nanci Lambert, Valerie Mora, Nora Bennett, Nicole Baker, and Mark Thompson.
Employee News 