Goat Hill Garage open for LGBTQ+ Pride parade
Plan on participating in the LGBTQ+ Pride parade or watching the festivities? Public transportation is an excellent way to get downtown and avoid the traffic. Check out your options at Metro Trip Planner and Sound Transit. If public transportation is not an option for you, the Goat Hill Garage, normally closed on weekends, will open on Sunday, June 25 for parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking will be $9 for the general public and $7 for King County employees. The garage is at 415 Sixth Avenue just across the street from the Chinook… Read More
FEMA Public Assistance Program Cost Reimbursement Team receives 2022 Innovation Award for Cost
The Department of Executive Services and Office of Emergency Management – FEMA Public Assistance Program Cost Reimbursement Team has been honored with the Innovation Award for Cost. This award, part of King County Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards, is one of the of five Innovation Awards highlighting department teams whose projects, improvements, and ingenuity deliver exceptional, measurable results. “We solve problems” and “We drive for results” are core values at King County, and these award recipients met challenges in creative and impactful ways. Meet the team and view the award announcement and video… Read More
Register now for upcoming retirement classes
Check out the educational opportunities below to help you learn about — and prepare for — retirement. The following online classes are provided by your King County Retirement Team. For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, read the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator. Introduction to Social Security — Wednesday, July 12 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Join this 90-minute class if you are interested in learning more about Social Security. Guest speaker Kirk Larson from the Social Security Administration will discuss your options as a King County employee… Read More
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… Read More
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…. Read More
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…. Read More
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.
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.
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.
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.
Employee News 