Summary

The King County Council voted Tuesday to approve the 2023-2024 biennial budget that outlines $16.2 billion in County investments. The budget builds on important investments proposed by Executive Constantine and includes additional funding to support pandemic recovery, public safety, human services, transit, housing, and more.

Story

The King County Council voted Tuesday to approve the 2023-2024 biennial budget that outlines $16.2 billion in County investments. The budget builds on important investments proposed by Executive Constantine and includes additional funding to support pandemic recovery, public safety, human services, transit, housing, and more.

"Our region continues to face many serious challenges, from homelessness to behavioral health to a growing income inequality and from climate change to public safety, and much more,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles. “The budget we passed today invests creatively in solutions and policies aimed at alleviating these challenges so that King County residents will be more likely to afford housing, access justice and live safe, healthy lives. I'm pleased that this budget reflects our county’s commitment to lead with equity and social justice, and I am confident it will lead to better outcomes for individuals, families, workers, and communities across the county. Thanks to Budget Chair Joe McDermott and his team for their thoughtful leadership in this budget process.

“Plus, I am very pleased that I was able to secure important investments that will benefit my constituents as well as many others, especially the $1.1 million in funding for the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Canoe Center, which will serve as an important, Indigenous-led community space in District Four. Investments in violence prevention, access to justice, gun safety, and public health will impact District Four in a myriad of important ways.” 

Kohl-Welles was able to advocate for and secure funding for the following investments:

• $1.1 million in capital funding for the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Canoe Center, which will be located in the South Lake Union neighborhood;
• $1 million in additional funds to organizations providing services in response to sexual assault and gender-based violence from MIDD (Mental Illness and Drug Dependency) funding;
• $775,000 to improve the protection order process in King County, including expanding language access, resource navigation, and civil legal aid;
• $750,000 in capital funding for the ASUW Shell House;
• $500,000 for a new elevator for Pike Place Market;
• $500,000 to continue Public Health – Seattle and King County’s work to support bike safety and helmet distribution;
• $500,000 in restricted funds until King County Metro confirms that SaFE Reform Community Ambassadors’ efforts have been focused on areas with high rates of reported security incidents, including  Aurora Village and Third Avenue between South Main Street and Broad Street;
• $400,000 in restricted funds until the Superior Court transmits a report on jury diversity in King County;
• $300,000 to support the veterans’ meal program at LifeLong AIDS Alliance;
• $300,000 to support a meatcutter inspection position at Public Health;
• $250,000 in restricted funds until the newly expanded Office of Inquest posts more complete information on past and pending inquests on its website and produces a report on how the inquest process is achieving stated goals and engaging with the community;
• $200,000 for Path with Art’s art-based therapeutic health programming;
• $130,000 for Seattle Compassion Services to conduct outreach to the unhoused community, especially in the Ballard/Northwest Seattle area;
• $50,000 to support the Lock It Up gun safety program and continued funding for the Regional Domestic Violence Firearms Enforcement Unit;
• $15,000 to SIghtLife to support language access for corneal transplant donors and recipients. 

 Find more budget information here.