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Constantine proposes loaning King County Ferry District money to Flood Control District
Summary
Fund shift would allow construction of necessary flood-protection projects
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King County Council Chair Dow Constantine today proposed that the King County Ferry District consider loaning reserve funds to the county’s Flood Control District in order to complete critical flood control projects.“Cash flow problems caused by tough economic times have slowed the King County Flood Control District’s completion of its capital plan—even as the threat of flood danger grows in the communities downstream from the federal Howard Hanson Dam,” said Constantine. “Given that the Ferry District work plan required the creation of significant reserve funds, this interfund loan would enable us to create more flood protection capacity sooner—and at no additional cost to taxpayers.”
The problems at the Howard Hanson Dam represent a major change since the Flood Control District was created in 2007 and constitute a serious threat to downstream communities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has limited the amount of water held behind the dam based on large amounts of seepage through the earthen dam’s right abutment.
Storing less water behind the dam means that more water would be released into the Green River during major storms. That could mean more flooding problems downstream in the cities of Kent, Renton, Auburn and Tukwila.
The King County Ferry District is currently developing an investment fund for its capital reserves, which total more than $16 million.
“I am working with Executive Kurt Triplett to create a scaled-down Ferry District work plan that maintains the two existing, successful ferry routes in West Seattle and Vashon, while shifting most of the district’s tax authority to Metro Transit,” said Constantine. “My initial examination of the flood district proposal shows that such a loan could be made while retaining the ability of the ferry district to meet the business objectives for its two existing routes.”