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First scholarship application period ends Feb. 5
The first application period for the Coalition Labor Agreement Professional Development Scholarship is ending Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Please ensure all outstanding applications are submitted no later than midnight on that date. To apply: Please familiarize yourself with the eligibility and application requirements by first visiting the scholarship website. Click here to apply. Important: Please answer all supplemental questions and provide all requested information on the application to avoid it being flagged as incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be moved forward in the process. Awardees for the first period will be notified via email between March… Read More
Do you file an annual financial disclosure? Watch your email for information
If your department has determined that you need to file an annual financial disclosure form, watch for an email from donotreply@neogov.com that says “System – Task Ready” in the coming weeks. Like last year, the Financial Disclosure Program will be sending forms through NEOGOV rather than through county email. Participation in this program is required if you receive the email from NEOGOV. All forms are due by April 15, 2023. Please contact your department directly if you have questions about why you have been asked to fill out the form. For any questions about the… Read More
With her robe, Judge Hawk takes responsibility for making justice real
Cross-posted from King County Superior Court When Judge Jaime Hawk was helped into her black robe on Jan. 26, it wasn’t the first time she’d worn it. For more than five months, she’s performed the work of a King County Superior Court judge. And yet the formal ceremony — called an investiture — still had the air of something significant. Welcoming Judge Hawk to her new-ish role, Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary I. Yu noted the role judges play in creating and maintaining “a legal process that is predictable and rule-bound, where every individual has… Read More
Executive Constantine launches Re+, reinventing the region’s waste system to cut carbon emissions, transition to a sustainable economy
King County is launching a new initiative, Re+, to return valuable materials to the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions created by the region’s waste system. Re+ aims to recover nearly 70% of materials that are currently being sent to the landfill that could avoid becoming waste in the first place by being reused, recycled, or composted. Re+ will advance a goal in King County’s 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan to cut countywide greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade. To watch the video and read more. click here.
Executive proclaims February 2023 as Black History Month in King County
In 1986, the King County Council voted to designate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the county’s namesake in honor of his advocacy for the fair and equal treatment of people of all races. As well, King County acknowledges that Black history is American history; that the long history of forced enslavement, and institutional and structural racism toward Blacks in the U.S. and its generational impacts, and has committed itself to make progress on Equity and Social Justice through racially just policies that combat anti-Black racism. In light of these… Read More
King County Security Tips – The shock factor: Do not take the bait!
One of the most common and successful tricks cyber criminals use to trigger you into falling for their scams is fake “stressor events.” In this context, “stressor events” are shocking or compromising situations that inflict fear or provoke other emotions for the purpose of causing an impulsive reaction. How it worksWhen the bad guys present a shocking claim to an unknowing victim, they often add a sense of urgency to drive home the “importance” of the scenario. In reality, this sense of urgency is another factor increasing the chances that you will react… Read More
Tech Tip: Practice good IT “hygiene” – restart your computer regularly
Did you know your computer’s operating system is updated several times a year? This update happens behind the scenes, but requires you to restart your computer. This restart can take several minutes. Your computer may offer to reschedule this required restart until later, but will only allow you to postpone once or twice – you can’t delay the update forever! Most updates include important features such as new virus protections that are critical for the safety of King County’s systems. Please practice good IT “hygiene” and restart your computer regularly! Be sure… Read More
DES plays key role in severe weather response
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express The Department of Executive Services (DES) regularly helps King County stay operational during severe weather, as safely as possible. During the severe cold and ice that hit in late December, DES agencies, including the Office of Emergency Management and Facilities Management Division, helped senior county leaders make a rare decision: close county buildings and suspend most services for a day. Read more.
Honoring the legacy of Judge Patricia H. Clark
Judge Patricia H. Clark was a strong advocate for youth involved in the justice system. As a commissioner for King County Superior Court, Judge Clark handled many cases involving at-risk youth and children in need of services, also known as ARY and CHINS cases. In 1998, she joined the Superior Court bench, where she continued to serve until her retirement in 2013. During her tenure, Judge Clark left her mark on Juvenile Court, including stints as chief juvenile judge and chief advocate. As mentioned in a 2019 story by Superior Court: “[Clark]… Read More
Executive Constantine announces $52 million in funding for open space preservation projects
Multiple projects throughout King County will receive a combined $52 million in open space preservation funding after a plan proposed by Executive Constantine has been approved by the King County Council. The money will fund 36 projects that will increase access to greenspace and parks in underserved communities, acquire land for habitat restoration, protect tree canopy, and strengthen the local food system. Read more.
Attend an upcoming mindfulness class
Balanced You partners with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees. Register for an upcoming class below or view the full schedule here.
Groundbreaking on new trail bridge across the White River
A new 572-foot-long weathered steel bridge will cross the White River, connecting completed segments of the Foothills Trail at the King-Pierce county line. The project will connect residents, business districts, and civic centers to a 22-mile trail that offers scenic views of Mount Rainier. Read more.
WeightWatchers February Heart Health Month
Join WeightWatchers through King County for as low as $9.75 per month on select plans — 50% off the retail price! Become a WeightWatchers member by Feb. 28 and get a free WW Bluetooth® body weight scale that auto-syncs your weight in the WW app. Learn more at WW.com/KingCounty. Then get your scale at WW.com/freescale.
Animal Control Officer Shepherd recognized in The Seattle Times
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express It’s not every day members of the public take the time to thank employees for their good work. Someone did recently, recognizing Animal Control Officer Dominique Shepherd for helping with an aggressive dog. Someone wrote to the Times’ Rant and Rave column: “RAVE to Bruce at King County Parks and Officer Shepherd from Regional Animal Services of King County who quickly responded to an aggressive dog issue. Many people who are affected appreciate their dedication and efficiency.”
View your W-2 form online
Your 2022 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 Jan. 31 IRS deadline to the address you had listed in PeopleSoft on Dec. 31, 2022. 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… Read More
Is your internet unreliable? Help improve our nation’s broadband investments
The Federal Communications Commission recently published a new National Broadband Map, which attempts to show where internet service is and is not available for every location in the country. The map will guide how the Federal government spends $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the nation and it’s important to get it right. You can look up your address to make sure the map is accurate in terms of internet service availability and speed for your home or business. If you spot a problem with the map, you can submit a formal challenge… Read More
IE web browser is no longer supported – please use Edge
Microsoft is disabling their Internet Explorer (IE) web browser in favor of Edge. Going forward, any links you click will automatically open in Edge rather than IE. You can manually open Microsoft Edge by searching your Windows start menu in the lower left corner of your screen. For easier access, you can add the Edge browser to your task bar (the bottom ribbon on your screen) by simply right clicking on the Edge icon and selecting the “pin to taskbar” option. The Edge browser is expected to work with nearly all websites;… Read More
Make tax season less taxing with My Secure Advantage
For many of us, filing your taxes can cause anxiety. Using your financial wellness benefit, My Secure Advantage (MSA), there are several ways to take the stress out of this tax season: Consult an MSA tax specialist – Have tax-related questions? Talk with an MSA Money Coach to get answers and talk through your options. Call 1-888-724-2326 to schedule an appointment. King County employees get 90 days of free money coaching every year. Assisted tax prep – Taxes can be confusing and time-consuming, so why not have a tax professional handle your tax prep for… Read More
Reminder: Leave donation programs revised
King County recently replaced the employee donated leave programs with two similar programs that better comply with IRS tax requirements: The Employee-to-Employee Medical Leave Donation Program allows you to donate your accrued leave directly to another employee. The Emergency Medical Leave Fund makes permanent the emergency leave fund started during the pandemic and allows you to donate accrued leave and request donations from a central fund. Read more.
From professional chef to heavy-duty field mechanic: A ride-along with Brian Becker
Crossposted from the DES Express Brian Becker spent the first 16 years of his career as a professional chef. Now he’s got nearly that much experience as a mechanic. Becker sees many similarities between the two careers. Plus, his dad was a mechanic and he grew up tinkering with cars, so it seemed like a natural transition. Becker has been a heavy-duty mechanic at Fleet Services for about four years, and is one of six field mechanics there. His job is to service all sorts of vehicles and equipment at the wastewater… Read More
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