Development and Adoption of the King County Budget
As a government that sets priorities and funds programs consistent with those priorities, the King County Council works year-round to develop the annual King County Budget.
After the Council receives the Executive Proposed Budget in mid-October, all nine Councilmembers begin meeting as the Annual Budget Committee and hold four public hearings on the Executive's proposal. For six intensive weeks, Councilmembers and staff scrutinize the details in budget proposal to find the greatest efficiencies and ensure the public's priorities are met.
The final Council spending plan, frequently referred to as the "budget striker," strikes out the language of the Executive's proposal and replaces it with the final ordinance the Council intends to adopt. Final Council adoption usually occurs on the last Monday before Thanksgiving.
July |
County departments and general fund agencies submit their budget proposals to Executive's Budget Office |
August |
Executive and his budget staff meet with agencies to resolve outstanding budget issues |
Budget Preparation |
Executive makes final decision on budget proposals for departments and general fund agencies in September |
Budget Presentation |
Monday, October 13, Executive presents his proposed budget to Council |
Public Hearings |
Tuesday, October 14, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, 24635 Southeast Issaquah Fall City Road, Issaquah Thursday, October 16, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Maleng Regional Justice Center, Courtroom 3F, 401 4th Avenue North, Kent Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Finn Hill Junior High School, 8040 Northeast 132nd Street, Kirkland Thursday, October 23, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Shoreline Conference Center, Shoreline Room, 18560 1st Avenue Northeast, Shoreline Tuesday, October 28, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - King County Council Chambers, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle Monday, November 10, 11:00 a.m. - Council holds daytime public hearing at the King County Council Chambers, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle |
| Deliberation | County Elected Officials Present Before Councilmembers:Tuesday, October 21, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Budget Reconciliation and Adoption Committee Wednesday, October 22, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Budget Reconciliation and Adoption Committee Budget Panel DeliberationsTuesday, October 28, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Operating Budget Panel Wednesday, October 29, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Capital Budget Panel Wednesday, November 5, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Operating Budget Panel Thursday, November 6, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Capital Budget Panel
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| Reconciliation | Wednesday, November 12, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Budget Reconciliation and Adoption Committee Thursday, November 13, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Budget Reconciliation and Adoption Committee
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Adoption |
Thursday, Novmber 20, 9:30 a.m. - Budget chair scheduled to submit final Council budget proposal ("budget striker") Friday, November 21, 9:30 a.m. - Budget Committee scheduled to adopt budget striker Monday, November 24 - Council scheduled to adopt 2009 budget and campanion ordinances
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Executive Action |
Executive must take action within 10 days of budget adoption. |
Supplemental budgets
Four times a year, in the normal course of business, the Council and the Executive revisit the current year's adopted budget to make mid-course corrections, whether to shift monies from one fund to another to provide for the unexpected, to make supplemental appropriations as needed, to provide authority to spend funds that are carried over from previous years, or to simply make technical corrections. These quarterly actions, when adopted by the Council, are known as omnibus ordinance.