The Council unanimously adopted the 2012 King County budget. Our budget is balanced, maintains the County’s cash reserves and rainy day fund, and preserves the County’s strong AAA bond rating.
In recent years, the Council has cut over $200 million from the General Fund budget to make our budget sustainable in this tough economy. In contrast to previous years, the 2012 budget includes no major cuts to services, due in large part to the on-going savings and efficiencies that our reforms have produced.
Highlights of the Council’s adopted 2012 budget include:
Maintaining the integrity of our criminal justice system. More than three-quarters of the County’s general fund budget supports essential criminal justice services, such as the Sheriff’s Office, the courts, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and public defense. The 2012 budget includes:
Funding for the County’s gang initiative, which invested $1.4 million earlier this year in additional police and prosecutor resources to combat gang violence and greater funding for prevention programs.
Funding for the new 180 Program in the Prosecutor’s office. The program works with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system to help turn their lives around – 180 degrees – by focusing on community, their future, and staying out of trouble.
Increased funding for public defense, an essential and constitutionally mandated component of our justice system. The increased funding will protect individual rights by ensuring we maintain a high standard for the quality of justice.
Funding for the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, which will bring transparency and accountability to the Sheriff’s internal investigation process. You can read more about this office, which Councilmember Julia Patterson and I created, here.
Needed technology investments that I advocated for and which will result in long-term savings, such as overhauling the court’s outdated Electronic Court Records system and upgrades to the data system that serves the community corrections programs.
Prioritizing access to justice. The budget includes more than $300,000 for legal assistance programs that provide critical support to individuals who cannot afford a private attorney to assist with pressing legal matters. For example, these programs help people secure unemployment benefits and protect survivors of domestic violence. With the tough recession, these services are particularly in demand.
Support for basic human services. The budget reinvests $1 million in basic human services—food, shelter, and safety. This year’s budget reinvested $333,000 to each of 3 regional organizations that provide food, shelter, and safety services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
One of the regional service providers receiving funding is Food Lifeline, headquartered in Shoreline. You can read more about Food Lifeline here.
Preserving transit service. As a regular rider on the #41 from Northgate, I understand the importance of bus service. Although a steep decline in sales tax revenue threatened drastic cuts to bus service, the Council’s adopted budget preserves the current service levels for the next two years and continues implementation of efficiencies and improvements.
During the Council’s budget deliberations, we heard from many residents. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to comment on the budget – your feedback helped to shape the final product.
You can review the entire 2012 King County budget here.
Honoring Our Veterans
Bob’s late father, Murray Ferguson (left), served in the Navy.
Every November, we observe Veterans Day to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans. My father and grandfathers were veterans, so I know that veterans deserve our support. I encourage you to read the op-ed I wrote for Veterans Day at the link below.
Making sure veterans get the services they need is a priority for me, and I am proud to focus on veterans’ issues as a King County Councilmember. This year, our accomplishments to help veterans include:
Supporting King County employees called to active duty. I sponsored legislation with Councilmember Joe McDermott to ensure King County employees and their families do not lose benefits or take an unexpected pay cut when an employee is called to active military duty. I mentioned this issue in my September e-News, and I am pleased to announce that my colleagues voted to approve the legislation as part of the budget, supporting County employees as they answer our nation’s call to service.
Establishing a Veterans Treatment Court. I led the effort to establish a new Veterans Treatment Court to serve veterans that find themselves in the criminal justice system. The new court will reduce recidivism by connecting these veterans, who often suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, with needed services.
Renewing the Veterans and Human Services Levy. In August, voters overwhelmingly approved renewal of the Veterans and Human Services Levy. As the sponsor of the original levy and this year’s renewal, I am grateful for King County residents’ generosity to fund services for veterans, military personnel, their families, and others in need.
New Council Districts
The King County Districting Committee recently adopted the final map that established new boundaries for King County Council Districts. The changes were necessary to equalize population among the districts following the 2010 U.S. Census.
The new boundaries for District 1, which I represent, include new areas of north Seattle, Woodinville, and Kirkland. The new district is comprised of over 214,000 residents and also includes northeast Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and Bothell.
With the boundary changes, you may now live in a new Council District. To view the map and find out what King County Council District you live in, visit the Districting Committee’s website at www.kingcounty.gov/districting.
Council Appoints New State Senator
The Metropolitan King County Council recently appointed former State Representative David Frockt to the vacant Washington State Senate seat in the 46th Legislative District. You can read more about Senator Frockt and his appointment here.
The vacancy was a result of the sudden death of Senator Scott White. I was deeply saddened by the news of Senator White’s death. He was a steadfast and hardworking advocate for our shared constituents in the 46th Legislative District as he fought for education, the environment and transit. I continue to keep his family, especially his wife and young children, in my thoughts and prayers.
Welcoming New Lawyers
I again had the honor of speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for new attorneys that recently passed the bar exam. The King County Bar Association sponsored the event, and King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Richard McDermott issued the oath of attorney.
As a lawyer who joined the bar 15 years ago, I enjoyed having the opportunity to address this group of young lawyers. In my remarks, I shared some stories about the transformative power of the law and talked about the importance of service and giving back to the community.
Bob’s Bus Books
One of the things I enjoy most about taking the bus to work is that it allows me to read during my commute. I am currently reading Jack Kennedy: Elusive Heroby Chris Matthews. The book was a thoughtful gift from a college buddy, Mike Egan, who had Matthews inscribe it to me.
Out & About
I attended the very moving memorial for Senator Scott White at Meany Hall. The number of individuals that came to pay their respects was impressive, and indicative of the impact Senator White had on the community.
I joined my county colleagues from across the state at a board meeting of the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) in Bellevue last week. WSAC is a voluntary non-profit association that represents all 39 counties before the State Legislature.
I participated on a panel at the King County Bar Association’s Bench-Bar conference this month to discuss how King County and the legal community can work together to find a solution for replacing the dilapidated Youth Services Center.
The Korean American Coalition held their annual Leadership Awards Gala this month, and I enjoyed attending. King County has a dynamic and active Korean-American community, and the Council held a recognition welcoming the new Korean Consul General earlier this year.
I attended the Shoreline Community College Foundation’s 14th Annual Student Success Campaign Breakfast and was thrilled to be a part of raising more than $45,000 in scholarship funds – a record. My wife Colleen is a former Shoreline Community College employee.
Even though the Huskies didn’t win, I enjoyed attending the final UW football game at the old Husky Stadium. I have fond memories of selling newspapers as a young boy in the 1970’s and earning free admission to the end zone.
My favorite Husky Stadium memory is an unusual one becuse the game was actually a road game played in Tempe, Arizona. In 1982, along with my father and brothers, I was among the crowd gathered at Husky Stadium in the November cold to watch the Huskies upset Arizona State on closed-circuit TV. Following the victory, the crowd stormed the field and tore down the goal posts.
Volunteer Opportunities
As the former director of an emergency services office, I know that the holiday season is hard for many families in our community. It is also the time of year when many people look for volunteer opportunities. If you are thinking about volunteering, below are some organizations in District 1 that can help you give back to your local community:
North Helpline in Lake City has several volunteer opportunities at their food bank facility. They are also hosting a Holiday Gingerbread House Decorating Party and Fundraiser on December 4.
Food Lifeline in Shoreline has individual and group volunteer opportunities to help support their mission of ending hunger.
Hopelink, a non-profit that serves homeless and low income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities, has multiple locations in north King County. They have volunteer opportunities, including information about how someone can facilitate a food drive in their local area. On Sunday, November 20, Hopelink will also hold its annual “Turkey Trot” in Kirkland to raise money to help low-income families in north and east King County get through the challenging winter months.
United Way of King County has a number of holiday related volunteer opportunities, including information on how to adopt a family of a wounded warrior.
The King County Districting Committee recently adopted the final map that established new boundaries for King County Council Districts. The changes were necessary to equalize population among the districts following the 2010 U.S. Census. 
The Metropolitan King County Council recently appointed former State Representative David Frockt to the vacant Washington State Senate seat in the 46th Legislative District. You can read more about Senator Frockt and his appointment 
I again had the honor of speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for new attorneys that recently passed the bar exam. The King County Bar Association sponsored the event, and King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Richard McDermott issued the oath of attorney.
Bob’s Bus Books