Executive Constantine congratulates Council on adoption of 2013-2014 King County budget

November 13, 2012

Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine today congratulated the Metropolitan King County Council for the spirit of collaboration that led to its unanimous adoption of the 2013-2014 King County Budget.

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King County Executive Dow Constantine today congratulated the Metropolitan King County Council for the spirit of collaboration that led to its unanimous adoption of the 2013-2014 King County Budget.

“I appreciate the collegial and transparent relationship we enjoyed, with a free exchange of information and ideas,” said Executive Constantine. “In my 11 years with the County, this was the most efficient and collaborative budget process I’ve seen.”

The Executive thanked the Council for preserving the key elements of the budget he proposed on Sept. 24 – a budget that funds most County services at current levels, despite sharply limited growth in the economy.

“The Council's support for our reform initiatives, such as Lean, and its recognition that we must to continue to create efficiencies are critical to the County's long-term success,” he said.  

In particular, the Executive praised the Council for its fiscal responsibility in approving his proposed new financial policies, which create consistency in how fund balances are managed across all funds. He credited the Council for keeping his proposal to maintain a 6.5 percent reserve in the General Fund, and for approving an increase in the “rainy-day reserve” to $20 million. 

“My compliments and congratulations to the Council Budget Chair, Joe McDermott, and his strong budget leadership team of Jane Hague, Kathy Lambert, and Julia Patterson,” added the Executive.