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Metropolitan King County Council
516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-1000
Toll Free: 800-325-6165
TTY/TDD: 206-296-1024
Fax: 206-296-0198

council@kingcounty.gov
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Budget Calendar

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 received the 2010 Executive Proposed Budget on Sept. 28, all nine Councilmembers begin meeting as the Annual Budget Committee and hold four public hearings on the Executive's proposal. For eight 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.

BUDGET TIMELINE

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

Budget Presentation

Monday, September 28, Executive presents his 2010 proposed budget to Council

Public Hearings

Wednesday, October 7, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Bellevue City Council Chambers, 450 110th Ave. NE, Bellevue 

Tuesday, October 13, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Maleng Regional Justice Center, Courtroom 3F, 401 4th Avenue North, Kent

Thursday, October 22, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Redmond City Council Chambers, 15670 NE 85th Street, Redmond

Thursday, October 29, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - King County Council Chambers, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle

Monday, November 9, 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:

Wednesday, September 30, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Budget and Fiscal Management Committee

Budget Panel Deliberations

Public Safety and General Government Panel
Tuesday, October 6, 13, 20,  9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Physical Environment Panel
Wednesday, October 7, 14, 21, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Health and Human Services Panel
Thursday, October 8, 15 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Thursday, Ocotber 22 9:30 a.m.-3:00p.m.

Reconciliation

Tuesday, October 27, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 29, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 3, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 4, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Thursday, November 5, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November, 10, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 12, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Adoption

Thursday, Novmber 19, 9:30 a.m. - Budget chair scheduled to submit final Council budget proposal ("budget striker")

Friday, November 20, 9:30 a.m.  - Budget Committee scheduled to adopt budget striker

Monday, November 23 - Council scheduled to adopt 2010 budget and campanion ordinances

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.

 The Council's Budget and Fiscal Management  Committee is hosting four public hearings on the 2010 Executive Proposed Budget. The final hearing will be held on Monday, November 9, starting at 11:00 a.m. (sign-ups begin at 10:30) in the King County Council Chambers, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle.

All meetings and public hearings will be cablecast on King County Television