Dear King County employee,

I want to provide you with an update on King County’s budget. Overall, King County’s budget is healthy. However, one component – the General Fund – is facing a $150 million gap in 2026-2027 because of a state law that prevents property tax revenues from keeping up with inflation.

State law prohibits more than a 1% annual increase in the property tax. King County, like many other counties, has managed within the 1% revenue growth limit by finding efficiencies, making small reductions in services, and finding small new revenue sources. This was possible because inflation was low for about 15 years. The high inflation between 2021 and 2023, which averaged 6.78% per year, has driven up costs, and we can no longer avoid large budget cuts.

Some departments are more reliant on the General Fund than others. Much of the General Fund goes to services mandated by the State, such as courts, property assessments, public defense, and corrections. That leaves the remainder of the General Fund to face reductions, which can’t be spread out among the General Fund evenly.   

I want to emphasize that no decisions have been made yet. We are very early in the budget process and a lot can change as we move through it, including action by the State Legislature. 

In late January, most General Fund agencies received budget goals to meet. 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. Departments will develop plans that meet their target goals and will submit budget proposals to the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget (PSB) in late June.

Please understand that we are in the early stages of planning for budget reductions and there are several steps in the process before final decisions are made. There are no plans for immediate position reductions in any King County department. The first round of program reductions is anticipated to be part of the 2026-2027 budget. 

County leaders will work with PSB, the Department of Human Resources, and the Office of Labor Relations to follow policy and collective bargaining agreements which provide structure and resources established to support employees in the process.   

I know 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
Director, Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget

Just like when you’re driving on the roads, tailgating can also be a problem when you’re walking into your workplace.  

Tailgating in the workplace is when an unauthorized individual follows an authorized person through a secured entry point such as a door or gate. It’s one of the most common security breaches, but is also easily stopped. You can prevent tailgating by staying vigilant and being aware of your surroundings, and not letting people follow you into secured workspaces. 

Tailgating can happen in a variety of ways, including opening a door and holding it open for another person, forgetting to close the door behind you as you rush to your desk, or placing a doorstop in a doorway to prevent it from latching securely. These situations open your environment to unauthorized entry by individuals who may have bad intentions. 

Prevent tailgating by following these tips: 

• When entering a building or floor that requires badge access, don’t hold doors open for unknown individuals. It’s not rude to tell someone that a particular space requires access authorization. You can ask them to use their King County issued ID badge to enter. 

• If you see someone in a restricted area and you can’t see their King County ID badge, try talking to them first. You might ask if they have been helped or who they are there to see. 

• If you’re uncomfortable talking to an unknown individual, you can contact FMD Security at 206-296-5000. If you feel you’re in imminent danger, call 911. 

Practicing these measures will help us continue to foster a safe working environment. 

For after-hours emergencies or accessibility assistance, please contact the FMD Emergency Dispatch Center at 206-296-5000. For all other issues, please contact the FMD Customer Care Services Team at CustomerCareServices.FMD@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-9400. 

As county employees, the records we maintain do not belong to us; instead they belong to the agency we work for. This is especially important to remember for employees that are exiting employment, and even those transferring to different agencies within King County. Any records that document your work for a particular position should be left in the care and custody of the agency you are leaving. Do not take them with you!

For more guidance, refer to the Exiting Employee Checklist on our website.

For more information, visit the county’s Records Management Program website or contact them at records.management@kingcounty.gov. The Records Management Program, 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.