Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced $26 million in funding for nine affordable housing developments that will generate 848 new homes, 66 renovated rental units, and 25 new home ownership units across King County over the next five years. The investments prioritize affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and locations close to public transit.
King County’s Housing Finance Program (HFP) – managed by the Department of Community and Human Services through its Housing and Community Development division – invests in affordable housing development and preservation throughout the region. The developments meet the diverse housing needs of communities and span the full scope of affordable housing types, including permanent supportive housing, rental housing for families and veterans, and environmentally sustainable homes that reduce utility costs and climate impacts. Read more.
Throughout the last several years we’ve seen an ongoing trend of lots of turnover – many employees are retiring or transferring to different positions, and many new employees are coming onboard. These transitions are a great time to be thinking about our important records.
Did you know that there is an Executive Policy that requires that all employees leaving their county positions perform certain steps with their records? Did you know that other people (such as Supervisors) also have certain responsibilities and steps in that process as well?
The good news is that we have resources to help!
Supervisors can also learn more about their responsibilities in an 11-minute online training, Records Management for Managers and Supervisors.
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.
Kaiser Permanente has phased out the Active&Fit Direct program and has introduced a new program called One Pass Select by Optum. The Optum One Pass Select program is available to Kaiser Permanente members only. This subscription-based fitness membership and well-being network is designed to support a healthier lifestyle. Members have unlimited access to all gym locations available within a selected plan, extensive digital resources, and more.
The Active&Fit Direct program is now available to Regence members only. If Kaiser Permanente members signed up for the Active&Fit Direct program prior to Jan. 1, 2025, your membership with your gym(s) will continue as is and will not change. Read more.
Oral health is an important part of overall well-being. That’s why King County offers comprehensive dental care for employees and their family members.
Most King County employees have access to two dental plan options: Delta Dental PPO and Cigna Dental HMO (offered only to the Regular & Transit ATU 587 employee benefit groups). These plans cover a wide range of services, including preventive care, diagnostic services, and restorative treatments.
Preventive services—such as routine cleanings, exams, and x-rays—are key to maintaining oral health. These regular check-ups help catch issues such as cavities or gum disease early, saving you from more extensive and costly treatments in the future.
Diagnostic and preventive services are free on both dental plans and annual deductibles do not apply. Note: Deputy Sheriff plan members pay 0 – 30% for preventive services. Please visit this link for more information. Read more.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, King County employees and community members came together to honor our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The annual celebration was at the Ikea Performing Arts Center in Renton.
The celebration focused on the theme Dedication to Community, and the accompanying quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
The program featured keynote speaker, Dr. Quinton Morris, concert violinist, educator, entrepreneur, radio host and filmmaker. Several performances were also included, by Key to Change students, NAAM’s African American Cultural Ensemble, Northwest Tap Connection, and poetry from Tia Yarbrough, with a land acknowledgement by Scott Pinkham.
For more information about the annual celebration of King County’s namesake, visit the King County website.
View the entire 2025 MLK Celebration in the video below.
Danielle Hinz started in her role as Finance and Business Operations’ new deputy director on January 6, returning to King County after a hiatus working at Amazon.
“You will find that Danielle is a seasoned and mature leader who excels at building relationships,” said Ken Guy, FBOD director. “She is also a strategic and visionary thinker who knows how to achieve results in collaboration with others.” Read more.
King County offices are closed on Monday, Jan. 20 to observe the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. All offices will be back to normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Click here for Metro Transit holiday bus schedules.
If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor. Have a safe and healthy holiday.
Cirque du Soleil returns to Marymoor Park with KOOZA, a show that combines two circus traditions: acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.
King County employees receive 20% off by using this link for select seats/dates. For VIP packages and groups of 10 or more people, contact Sales Manager Michael Ciaccia at Michael.Ciaccia@cirquedusoleil.com for details and added savings.
See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Your 2024 W-2 form is now available in PeopleSoft to view and print. ADP will mail a paper copy of your W-2 form by the January 31 IRS deadline to the address you had listed in PeopleSoft on Dec. 31, 2024.
To view or print your W-2, log in to PeopleSoft, choose the Payroll tile, then go to “View W-2/W-2c Forms.” You can also access W-2 forms from any device by registering at the ADP website using these instructions: Access W-2s through ADP.
Your Form 1095-C—Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage—will also be sent to your home address by ADP. This form is informational only—it shows whether you were offered health insurance by King County last year.
For questions about the information on your W-2, please see W-2 Form Guide. Information is also available on the IRS website. Reprint requests for 2024 W-2 forms are accepted after Feb. 15. If you need help with PeopleSoft, call the IT Service Center at 206-263-4357. If you have questions about Form 1095-C, please see About Form 1095-C or contact Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556 or KC.Benefits.
Crossposted from Metro Matters
A loyal friend. A kind and thoughtful operator. A devoted husband.
Metro Operator Shawn Yim was all these things and more. Yim, 59, was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 18.
Thousands of Metro and other King County employees, staff from transit agencies around the Northwest and Canada, dignitaries and members of the public participated in a citywide procession and attended the memorial service that followed. It was hosted by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 587 at the Lumen Field WAMU Theater. Read more.
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