Extra November 2008
In this newsletter:
• Report flood damage
• Flood Control District update
• Budget update
• Agricultural property tax exemption – Good news!
Dear District 3 residents,
November has been a busy month with severe weather and the adoption of the budget scheduled for Monday, Nov. 24. We are working seven days a week to set priorities for public safety. I would like to share a few timely updates with you.
Report flood damage
King County residents and business owners who sustained damage from the recent storms and flooding are encouraged to report uninsured property damages online by visiting http://your.kingcounty.gov/prepare/damage.
Damage information is collected to determine if a request for federal disaster assistance is possible. If you have questions or to see if you qualify, please call the Office of Emergency Management at 206-296-3830.
Flood Control District update
The first year of the new King County Flood Control District is coming to a close. We have seen many successes in implementation of the 2008 work plan. Two local mayors credited these improvements with enhancing public safety during our recent storm event. Repairs to the Mason-Thorson Levee on the Snoqualmie River were important in preventing flooding in North Bend. This work is making a difference.
On Monday, the King County Flood Control District approved a plan for allocating flood district funds for Year Two. This work plan includes 55 projects to minimize flooding by making capital improvements on aging levees. These efforts are integral to improving our flood control infrastructure.
Year One brings the completion of 24 projects. The majority of them are high priority repairs from the devastating November 2006 flooding. Without the work of the Flood District and the assistance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, these projects would have taken an estimated 17 years to fund and complete.
More information is available at www.kingcounty.gov/council/flood_district.aspx.
Budget update
Due to a severe revenue shortfall, we have the challenge of cutting $93 million from the 2009 budget. By law there are many dedicated funds in the county budget that are limited to specific purposes. Because of this, the majority of the cuts had to come from the county’s general fund.
The general fund operates the sheriff's department, courts, jails, local government for unincorporated areas, assessor, prosecution, public defenders and other human services. These are the basic services of government. The general fund has an approximately $630 million, and about 71% of those funds go toward criminal justice services. As we decide where these cuts have to be made, we have set new spending limits and refocused on the most important priorities of county government.
One of the major challenges we are facing is the sharp downturn in the county's sales tax revenue. The reduction in those funds affects revenues to many accounts, including the general fund and transit.
Another challenge is unfunded state mandates. There is a long list of state regulations that require the county to provide specific services. However, the state does not provide the revenues to fund those mandated services. This is much like being told to pay your neighbor’s water bill without being given any money. We will need to explain in Olympia that we are willing to provide the services required, but the legislature needs to pitch-in financially.
Many of the general fund cuts have been difficult to make because the service reductions directly affect our citizens. The Budget Leadership Team has spent long hours talking about our priorities – public safety, health, and quality of life and how each expenditure ranks within those priorities.
Thank you to the many hundreds of people who took the time to contact me about your priorities for the 2009 King County Budget. The Council takes a final vote on Monday, Nov. 24. You still can submit your comments directly to the Council online at www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget/Testify_Online.aspx.
Agricultural property tax exemption – Good news!
Horse boarding facilities that recently were notified they no longer qualify for the open space agricultural property tax exemption got a reprieve this week.
Our office participated in the public hearings last Thursday in Olympia on this issue. In response, the state Department of Revenue (DOR) issued a memo to all county assessors requesting that they take no enforcement or collection action at this time on disqualifications or reclassifications of property currently in the farm and agricultural lands exemption program. The King County Assessor’s Office has confirmed that it will honor this request.
The delay is requested while DOR works through the rule-making process. They will evaluate several changes to more clearly define eligibility for the exemption. More information is available at http://ofp.scc.wa.gov/. Another hearing will be conducted in Yakima on Dec. 4. You can share your comments by e-mail at MarilouR@dor.wa.gov.
As always, King County Council and Committee meetings can be viewed on KCTV Channel 22, or by online streaming video at www.metrokc.gov/ctv/
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Kathy Lambert
District 3
(206) 296-1003