Executive Constantine on the adoption of $12.4 billion biennial King County budget: Putting our money where our values are
“I thank the King County Council for their careful deliberations since I transmitted my proposed two-year budget in September. I also want to recognize the many community members who participated in hearings and other venues to get their voices heard. “This budget puts our money where our values are. It will provide a safe, dignified place to live to thousands of chronically homeless people. It re-orients our criminal legal system and makes a significant down payment in our ongoing efforts to shift resources to upstream programs aligned with racial and social justice. … Read More
Medical benefits for transgender employees
King County provides comprehensive benefits and services to support the health and well-being of eligible employees, retirees, and their dependents, and now offers enhanced medical benefits for transgender employees. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, King County expanded its medical plans’ coverage policies for transgender employees and their covered family members. King County has covered gender confirmation surgery and hormone replacement since 2015, but starting in 2020, we are covering additional gender-affirming procedures and treatments to comply fully with World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards, including procedures most insurers exclude. This week,… Read More
A historic moment for our democracy
Dear fellow King County employee, Last week, the American people elected a new president to lead us for the next four years and begin the work of healing our divided nation. It was a historic victory for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, and indeed for democracy itself. I am eager to work with the new administration on fighting the pandemic, rebuilding our economy, upending racial bias, healing the planet, and restoring America’s standing in the world. It is time to turn the page. I am grateful to once again have partners… Read More
Remaining focused on our priorities and values
Dear fellow King County employee, I know that many of us are feeling anxious and uncertain about the future of our nation and our world right now as we wait for a result in yesterday’s presidential election. For many, the prospect of weeks of recounts and legal actions only compounds what has been some of the most stressful times in our nation’s history, and our own lives. We must remain patient, vigilant, and steadfast. The record voter turnout in King County showed that, in this corner of the nation, we are united… Read More
Commitment to people with disabilities and Employment First
People with disabilities face long standing barriers obtaining competitive employment. Recent pre-COVID-19 data shows the overall jobless rate for people with disabilities at two times that of people without disabilities, and if you experience a developmental disability, the rate is triple that of your peers who do not have a disability. As we honor Disability Awareness Month this October, we recognize King County’s strong network of people with disabilities, their families, employment service providers, school partnerships, and business champions who are upholding Employment First to help people with developmental disabilities overcome barriers and gain… Read More
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the rich heritage, culture, contributions, and resilience of Indigenous people in our region and here at King County. There are 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington State and King County is home to a thriving Native American population from Tribal nations across the country. We are on the ancestral lands of the Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, Puyallup, Tulalip, and Suquamish Tribes, and the Duwamish people. Our region benefits tremendously from the generations of Native people on whose land we currently live, and who today continue to fight… Read More
Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month and supporting one another
The King County Latinx Affinity Group is hosting several events throughout the year to encourage employees during these challenging times, and celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, recognized as Sept. 15 – Oct. 15. Several of these events are planned in collaboration with Sound Transit Latinx in Transportation (LiT), and the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Latinx Caucus. They are intended to educate and empower community members to join together in supporting one another, the Latinx community, and other King County communities as well. To learn more about these events and the Latinx Affinity Group… Read More
My 2021-2022 proposed biennial budget
Dear fellow King County employee, Today I transmitted my 2021-2022 proposed biennial budget to the Metropolitan King County Council. It is a budget driven by our values, our anti-racism agenda, and the needs of our community. It tackles homelessness, transforms the criminal legal system, invests in our communities and community engagement, preserves and protects more of our region’s land and water, and continues our fight against climate change. It strengthens our equity and inclusion efforts, and purposefully incorporates an emphasis on racial justice and anti-racism. Some of the highlights include: A proposal… Read More
King County receives award for employee engagement program
King County recently received an ACE Award from Confirmit for improvements made in employee engagement as a result of its annual surveys and an employee-led action plan process to address issues identified in the survey. King County was further distinguished by being named the Judge’s Choice in the Employee Experience category and was the only public sector winner in any category. Confirmit’s 5,000 clients from around the world were eligible to apply. “This accomplishment was achieved by the collective efforts of employees and managers at all levels of our organization over the… Read More
We’re listening to employees to support employees
The King County value “We respect all people,” encourages us to actively seek to learn and understand all perspectives, beliefs, and values, engage people in decisions affecting them, and recognize all people for their contributions and accomplishments. This has never been more important than during our COVID-19 response. With this in mind, and to more fully understand the impacts of COVID-19 on employees, more than 1,000 randomly selected Executive branch employees participated in a survey or listening session in May 2020 to share their experiences and opinions. This opportunity allowed employees from… Read More
Employee News 