King County Executive Dow Constantine will transmit his 2015/2016 budget proposal to the Metropolitan King County Council today, Monday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. You can watch the 2015/2016 Executive Proposed Budget address at 11 a.m. by visiting http://www.kingcounty.gov/KCTV.aspx and clicking the link on the right hand side that says “Watch Us Live”. You can also watch a short video featuring Budget Director Dwight Dively giving an overview of what’s causing King County’s revenue shortfall. Dively explains the state’s tax structure and the broken system of providing revenues for King County, even… Read More

Area firefighters and County employees are getting some valuable emergency training this week thanks to the County’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). WTD is hosting one of the largest and most successful regional fire department hazardous materials drills at the South Treatment Plant in Renton. Exercises like this provide reality-based scenarios, spaces and equipment for the emergency responders to test, train and advance their skills. WTD hosted similar events in 2010 and 2012. This exercise is held and coordinated in and around the old decommissioned chlorine building and chemical tanks. It features some… Read More

Jacqueline “Jaye” Ware considers herself a traditional bailiff.  “I could be defined as an old fashioned bailiff in that I take courtroom conduct and decorum seriously,” Ware said. “It is rare for me to joke or kid around with lawyers or parties in the courtroom as I believe it is essential that the court maintain every appearance of fairness, even more so if there are spectators.” But she also realizes that putting jurors at ease is an important part of her role. “I am more relaxed around the jurors, as I think… Read More

Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations wants to ensure our employees are notified of some important changes regarding their pension plans. New DRS Employee Rates in 2015 Based on an actuarial review of the state pension plans, the Washington State Pension Funding Council approved a graduated approach to increasing member and employer contributions. This approach will spread out the impact of increased contributions over a number of years while still ensuring the impacted pension plans remain stable and robust. For employees participating in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), the rate will increase… Read More

Dear Fellow Employee/Union Member: Recently the Joint Labor and Management Insurance Committee (JLMIC) agreed to modest changes in 2015 benefits that will lower the County’s costs and protect the health of employees and their families. Last year the County and labor announced a new way of negotiating benefits that allows us to adjust benefits more regularly so we can be more responsive to market conditions. To keep you updated the JLMIC created a website with background on who we are, how we negotiate and what’s happening with health care costs.

Meet the two newest Superior Court Judges, Judge Chad Allred and Judge Samuel Chung Judge Chad Allred – On May 9, 2014, Governor Jay Inslee appointed Chad Allred to the King County Superior Court bench. Judge Allred assumed the position previously occupied by Judge Trickey, who was appointed to the Washington Court of Appeals. Judge Allred spent 15 years in private practice, where his litigation experience included trade secrets, tortious interference, securities fraud, racketeering, trust and probate disputes, serious injuries, and some criminal defense. He also developed expertise in the Hague Convention on… Read More