Dunn’s priorities for 2009 County Budget: fiscal discipline and law enforcement

Storefront Deputies saved, work group to examine rainy day reserves

In voting to adopt the 2009 King County Budget, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn said today that his priorities in building this budget were fiscal responsibility, public safety, the King County Fair and rural and agriculture programs.

Dunn, who has criticized the County for spending down reserves, highlighted the creation of a work group to look into the concept of a rainy day or counter-cyclical reserve fund. This kind of fund would allow the County to save money when the economy is good to offset service reductions when the economy declines.

“We moved the ball forward today towards a more fiscally sound general fund. By not spending all of our reserves, we left the budget in a better position for what could be a very difficult 2010,” Dunn said. “In addition, I was able to initiate a work group that will examine the concept of a counter-cyclical reserve fund, which could protect against service reductions during the next economic downturn.”

The 2009 budget also reinstated over two million dollars in cuts to the Sheriff’s budget that Dunn said could have led to more crime. Specifically, the Council refused to cut storefront deputies that are essential to community policing in the unincorporated areas.

“Our storefront deputies are on the front lines defending our citizens. Community policing models work everywhere they are tried. By becoming part of the community, these officers stop crime before it happens,” said Dunn. “The death of Deputy Steve Cox in 2006 was a very public example of how important these officers are to the people who live in our neighborhoods. I’m pleased that we found a way to keep the program going.”

Dunn also highlighted the restoration of funding for Agriculture, Forestry and Transparency in Taxation as critical programs that avoided the budget axe. “I’m please that we could make transparency in taxation more convenient for people to access online, while reducing the cost to taxpayers.”

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn represents District 9, which includes the communities of Bellevue, Newcastle, Renton, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Covington, Kent, Enumclaw and a significant portion of unincorporated King County.