King County adopts flood control budget

2011 wet season forecasted

Preparing for a wet 2011 flood season, the King County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors today adopted a 2011 budget totaling $37.25 million and a six-year capital improvement program.

“I’m extremely pleased that we are able to continue funding the critical and important work of reducing flood risk, protecting public safety, the regional economy and critical infrastructure,” said Flood Control District Chair Julia Patterson. “If we’ve learned anything since the creation of the Flood Control District, it is that the nature of flooding is dynamic and we need to be prepared for anything.”

“Since its creation, the Flood Control District has successfully completed 61 projects and, with the passage of this budget, 25 multi-year projects will be continued in 2011. Flood Control District funding also pays for the Flood Warning Center, a critical hub for monitoring and coordinating flood activities as well as providing the public with 24-hour, real-time river safety information,” said Flood Control District Board Supervisor Kathy Lambert. \

The Flood Control District’s Board of Supervisors asked their Advisory Committee to review the 2011 budget and provide recommendations for reprioritizing the 2011-2016 capital improvement plan to balance the capital budget after the impacts of levy suppression are known.

Flood Control District funding faced uncertainty just a few months ago due to property tax suppression. Suppression occurs when local taxing districts regular rates in any given area in the county exceed the limit of $5.90 per $1,000 of assessed value. The Flood Control District feared it might not be able to collect its approximately $37.25 million in 2011 to pay for critically needed flood protection projects.

The Flood Control District negotiated agreements with fire districts to lower their tax levies so the levy in their jurisdictions would be under the $5.90 limit. The Flood Control District, in turn, is then able to levy its tax and reimburse the fire districts the revenue they would lose.

“We greatly appreciate and thank our fire district partners – the first responders at flood events - for their cooperation and regional approach to flood protection,”stated Flood Control District Executive Committee Chair Reagan Dunn. “Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to continue maintaining and improving flood facilities throughout King County, benefiting all residents, farmers and businesses.”

The Flood Control District is hoping the state legislature will address the issue of levy suppression in the upcoming session as it is forecasted to be worse in future years.

The City of Seattle made a new request to the Flood Control District this year in the amount of $30 million to help rebuild the downtown seawall. The entire cost of the seawall project is estimated at $300 million.

“The seawall is of significant importance to the region and the Flood Control District has a history of supporting projects of regional importance,” said Flood Control District Board Supervisor Larry Gossett. “The failure of the seawall would cost more than 1,700 jobs, nearly $80 million in local wages and $32 billion in lost economic activity, disrupt major containing shipping business, delay freight and passenger rail traffic, disrupt sewer and electrical service and cause traffic and mobility impacts throughout the region.”

The Flood Control District Board approved allocating $4.25 million in the 2011 budget to the seawall project. Additionally, if the Flood Control District levy suppression issues are resolved by the state legislature, the Flood Control District Advisory Committee is tasked with providing options within the six-year capital improvement program for additional funding for the seawall project.

The Flood Control District continues to successfully leverage local tax dollars, at a rate of about six times the external revenue that was generated before the Flood Control District. Between 2008-2011, Flood Control District funds have leveraged more than $42 million in external grants and cost sharing agreements. The 2011 budget leverages over $7.4 million in external funding to support flood risk reduction activities.

The Flood Control District has also submitted additional grants to FEMA in the amount of $2.3 million to elevate or acquire 15 at-risk homes. This equates to leveraging $17 million in state/federal funding for every $1 from the Flood Control District.

Information about the King County Flood Control District can be found at www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org.

Related information

Flooding services and information

Flood Warning System

Prepare now for floods

King County Flood Control District

King County Water and Land Resources