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Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
Update on King County’s next biennium budget (2026-2027)
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… Read More
Watch for workplace tailgaters
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… Read More
Continuing cold temperatures, snow, and icy conditions
Cold temperatures, snow, and freezing conditions are set to continue in our region tonight and into tomorrow. Please be prepared for icy, slippery conditions, possible commute delays, and impacts to business operations. If you work on site, please be prepared for snow and icy conditions. Accumulated snow and ice may create hazardous conditions, so exercise caution and take extra precautions as needed. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra… Read More
2025 Black History Month Proclamation
Established in 1926, Black History Month is celebrated every February, and recognizes the impacts and achievements of Black Americans and all people of African descent in the United States. The 2025 Black History Month theme is “African Americans and Labor,” and prompts residents to acknowledge King County’s long history of Black workers, creators, and business owners and their contributions to building our modern communities, especially the many talented King County employees who help keep our transit system in motion, our facilities in operation, and our water clean. Read the official proclamation here.
Discounted tickets to STG
King County employees can take advantage of discounted tickets to the Seattle Theatre Group (STG) Performing Art’s Series. The discount is 15% off the base ticket price, and does not include per ticket facility fees. Visit this link to purchase discounted tickets to upcoming shows. See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Records Management Reminder: Your work records do not belong to you
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… Read More
Above ground: A vibrant playground, ballfield, and picnic shelters. Below ground: Infrastructure that protects water quality
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green What would it look like if you built an accessible park with popular amenities that is engineered to treat polluted stormwater for the benefit of people, salmon, and wildlife? You don’t have to just imagine the result – you can go see a new stormwater park in Kirkland, just like King County Executive Dow Constantine recently did. Read more.
Energize your workday with King County Activity Centers
Energize your workday and unleash productivity and overall well-being with on-site fitness resources and movement breaks. Balanced You manages many Activity Centers throughout King County’s workplaces. These conveniently located spaces provide opportunities for employees to get moderate levels of physical activity and movement– before, during, and after work. Our Activity Centers feature various commercial grade cardio and strength equipment including treadmills, ellipticals, recumbent bikes, dumbbells, stretching areas, stability balls and more. Check out this fun video to learn more and see your co-workers in action! Watch the video to learn more.
Emergency room visits may cost you more this year, but having a primary care provider may help
To help manage rising health care costs, a new emergency room (ER) out-of-pocket limit was added to the Regence KingCare PPO and KingCare Select medical plans for those in the Regular and TEA-DOT employee benefit groups. If you fall into one of these groups and visit the ER, your total out-of-pocket costs may be higher this year. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Regular and TEA-DOT employees enrolled in Regence medical plans have a separate out-of-pocket limit for ER visits. These limits are in addition to out-of-pocket limits for medical and prescription drugs. Your… Read More
Introducing Michael Bailey, the new Adult Services Division Director
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) warmly welcomes Michael Bailey as the new director of the Adult Services Division (ASD). Michael brings more than 15 years of experience leading health and human service organizations, advancing economic mobility efforts, supporting aging adults, and co-creating community-led programs. Michael has a strong commitment to collaborative problem-solving and strategic initiative implementation that enhances service delivery, improves access points, and fosters inclusive and equitable practices within government organizations. Read more.
Be prepared for cold temperatures, snow, and icy conditions
Extremely cold temperatures, snow, and possible freezing rain are forecast for our region this weekend and into next week. Please be prepared for slippery conditions, possible commute delays, and impacts to business operations. If you work on site, please be prepared for snow and icy conditions. Accumulated snow may create hazardous conditions, so exercise caution and take extra precautions as needed. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing,… Read More
Cybersecurity training due Jan. 31, 2025
All employees and vendors with access to King County systems must complete Cybersecurity Training by Jan. 31, 2025. Log in here to complete your assigned training with our education partner, KnowBe4. Training takes about 60 minutes. Annual security training is an important activity that safeguards King County systems, and the number of employees who complete training each year impacts our insurance rates. Thank you for doing your part to protect King County! For assistance, contact the KCIT Helpdesk
King County makes historic investment in expanding and supporting the local behavioral health workforce
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the county’s largest-ever investment in the behavioral health workforce, a crucial step towards meeting the growing need for mental health and substance use care. King County is awarding $12 million to help 37 behavioral health providers support, retain, and recruit employees, strengthening the local workforce, with an additional $4.8 million to expand the SEIU Training Fund’s apprenticeship program. Supporting behavioral health workers is a key part of the Crisis Care Centers initiative, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2023. The… Read More
New way to access your employee information
New tools for getting King County news, resources, and Human Resources information are now available to County employees. The new employee-only Intranet Homepage and Department of Human Resources (DHR) intranet sites, and new public-facing DHR pages on kingcounty.gov are live. Links to the new sites are below: King County Employee Homepage: kc1.sharepoint.com Department of Human Resources Intranet: kc1.sharepoint.com/sites/DHR-intranet Department of Human Resources public webpages: kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dhr Please familiarize yourself with these new resources and update your list of “favorite” links (bookmarks). For easy access, a shortcut button was added on Jan. 27 to Executive Branch desktops which… Read More
Remaining focused on our True North, values, and the work that unites us
In Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. County, we lead with our values and True North – from investing in historically marginalized and oppressed communities to implementing laws that ensure all people here are honored, respected, and treated with dignity. We recognize that our greatness has come from our diversity, and that our prosperity is a result of embracing and supporting all who call our county home. King County will continue to be a welcoming place for ALL people, including immigrants and refugees, recognizing the vital contributions to our region’s cultural and economic… Read More
Seattle Mariners and UW Husky discounts
King County employees can take advantage of a new discount to three Mariners games in May, August, and September. These discounted tickets are available for the seating options below. Purchase tickets and view more information here. The deadline to purchase all tickets is 5 p.m. the day before. Saturday, May 31 vs. Minnesota Twins, $32 Main Level or $19 View Level ticket. Saturday, Aug. 23 vs. the A’s, $41 Main Level or $19 View Level ticket. Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. Texas Rangers, $32 Main Level or $19 View Level ticket. Discounted tickets to… Read More
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, November-December 2024
Crossposted from Metro Matters They produce TV shows for their community and enjoy playing and watching soccer. They love to barbecue and go out to eat. One taught music in Amsterdam, another was inspired by bus rides to school to become a bus driver. Those who ride with them say they “made my afternoon,” are “very inspiring,” and is “the best driver I ever met.” They are operators with 200 years of professional driving experience! The operators on your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back… Read More
Local funding working to prevent human trafficking in King County
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. During the month of January, governments, anti-trafficking organizations, law enforcement, survivor advocates, community leaders, and community members come together to raise awareness about human trafficking, to educate the public on how to identify and prevent human trafficking, and to protect and empower survivors of all forms of human trafficking. Human trafficking impacts the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Around the world, including the United States, it is estimated that 27.6 million people, adults and children, are subjected to human trafficking. Human trafficking… Read More
King County employee discounts for Husky basketball
Husky basketball is excited to offer local Washington government employees discounted tickets to four exciting games this year. This special offer is exclusively available to you as a local Washington government employee. Join us as Coach Sprinkle, Great Osobor and the Dawgs take on Purdue, UCLA, Northwestern, Rutgers and Indiana this season. For general assistance in purchasing additional seats, season tickets or group outings contact Group Sales Account Executive Andy Reed at (206) 543-7020 or areed4@uw.edu. To purchase discounted tickets, click here. Discounted tickets are available for the following games: UW vs UCLA, Jan…. Read More
Revive I-5: Find Your Way webinar series
Starting in March, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will begin a three-year project to rehabilitate and preserve I-5 through Seattle. The project will require sections of I-5 to be reduced to two lanes for up to nine months each year, starting with Northbound construction along the aging Ship Canal Bridge. This preservation project is critical for keeping people and goods moving safely for decades to come. Commute Seattle, a transportation news blog, is here to help businesses and destinations find their way through this construction period with the Revive I-5 webinar series. Tune… Read More
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