Constantine elected Chair of King County Council

On January 12, I was unanimously elected by my colleagues on the King County Council to serve as Council Chair for 2009.

It is a great honor and privilege to serve the citizens of King County in this pivotal role.

The current economic downturn impacts King County government just as it affects your household. Last fall we closed an unprecedented budget shortfall of more than $93 million, or nearly one-sixth of our entire general fund. We closed that gap by making cuts to key programs and providing only partial-year funding to others.

I am proud of the job this Council did to protect our highest priorities of public safety and health in the 2009 King County Budget. However, we now face the prospect of making more and deeper cuts this year and beyond unless we find long-term, stable sources of revenue. I am working with my colleagues on the Council and in the state Legislature to secure the tools and flexibility we need to maintain the quality services you expect.

It is more important than ever that we promote efficiency, accountability, and effectiveness in government. You expect fiscal integrity in the use of your tax dollars, and as Council Chair for 2009 I will make sure we meet that challenge by setting priorities, funding programs consistent with those priorities, and measuring results.

Toward that end the Council this year will oversee a sweeping audit of the Metro Transit system, ramp up implementation of Council-initiated countywide performance measures, and improve our budgeting process through expanded Council budget review and establishment of a joint economic forecasting office with the Executive.

King County provides services that you rely upon every day. We provide the Metro bus that takes you to work or school, operate the courts and jails, maintain the wastewater system, and deliver direct services—such as roads and police protection—to unincorporated communities.

King County is the 14th most populous U.S. county and the second largest government in Washington State. But I will continue to measure our success by how well we respond to the needs of individual citizens.

Ferry District continues full steam ahead; Water Taxi to open April 5

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi will commence its seasonal service on Sunday, April 5—its earliest opening date ever.

Opening Day for the Water Taxi will be marked with the traditional ceremonies at Seacrest Dock and a day of free rides for all.

The Water Taxi is still on schedule to move to year-round service in 2010, thanks to a November budget vote by the King County Ferry District Board of Supervisors (a.k.a. the King County Council).

The vote also keeps Vashon Island passenger ferry service up and running, while continuing the planning process for new demonstration passenger ferry routes throughout King County.

We have also lowered the average tax bill for district residents by electing to bypass both the allowed annual 1 percent levy increase and the increase for new construction value. I think these actions chart a prudent course for moving forward with expanded passenger ferry service in King County.

Sound Transit awarded $813 million federal grant

Sound Transit got another piece of good news last month with the announcement of an $813 million Federal Transit Administration grant to build the University Link light rail extension.

The Sound Transit light rail system between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport will open later this year. The $1.9 billion University Link addition will open in 2016 and is expected to add more than 70,000 daily riders to the system.

The University Link project will also generate 2,900 direct construction jobs, according to a U.S. Department of Commerce estimate.

I salute U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, and my colleagues on the Sound Transit Board of Directors for their hard work to secure this commitment.

County Council to be closed on furlough days

County Council employees will join their colleagues throughout King County by taking ten unpaid furlough days during 2009. This action was needed to help close a multi-million-dollar budget gap in the King County Budget. Councilmembers are sharing fully in this effort by returning a portion of their salaries to the County's General Fund through payroll deductions.

My Council office will be closed on the following days: Friday, Feb. 13; Friday, March 13; Friday, April 10; Friday, May 22; Friday, June 19; Monday, July 6; Friday, Sept. 4, and Wednesday, Nov. 25. An additional furlough day in August will be announced shortly.

Community Forums to discuss government priorities

Countywide Community Forums are a network of small group meetings where people throughout the county can discuss current issues and provide feedback to King County officials.

Two to four times a year, registered citizen councilors meet in homes, libraries and other locations throughout King County to learn more about an issue that matters to them, discuss it with the group and complete a detailed survey on their views. The next round of forums will be held in February on the topic: "Citizen Priorities for County Government: Budget and Strategic Options."

For more information on Countywide Community Forums, please go to www.kingcounty.gov/operations/auditor/communityforums.aspx