Recent Executive Office press releases

More than 156,000 acres of open space land in King County will enjoy extra protection at no cost taxpayers, thanks to a charter amendment vote of the people Tuesday.  Learn more...

The King County Council has passed legislation approving $34.6 million in funding for flood preparation activities in the Green River Valley as requested by King County Executive Kurt Triplett in September.  Learn more...

Work will begin immediately to protect residents and businesses by raising flood protection levees at vulnerable spots in Auburn, Kent and Tukwila under an agreement signed today by King County Executive Kurt Triplett and the Mayors of Auburn, Kent and Tukwila.  Learn more...

On Monday, October 12, 2009, most King County staff will be on unpaid leave and most county buildings will be closed as the county takes the eighth of 10 furlough days in 2009 to cut operational costs countywide. All department employees, with limited exceptions, such as those in public safety functions, are included in the furlough plan.  Learn more...

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An audit released by the Washington State Auditor on Wednesday highlights nearly two dozen instances of industry standard best practices being used by King County to reduce taxpayer costs for utility services.  Learn more...

King County Executive Kurt Triplett announced he is sending three pieces of legislation to the King County Council this week to increase protection of people and businesses, their property, and county facilities and services in the event of a flood in the Green River Valley. He will request approximately $40 million for 2009 flood preparation costs.  Learn more...

King County Executive Kurt Triplett signed a proclamation of emergency today in order to speed up preparation for an increase risk of flooding on the Green River due to damage to the Howard Hansen Dam. The action will waive county contracting requirements and help support a request for federal reimbursement for pre-emptive measures after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warned of potential major flooding for three to five years while the dam is repaired.   Learn more...

On Friday, September 4, 2009, most King County staff will be on unpaid leave and most county buildings will be closed as the county takes the seventh of 10 furlough days in 2009 to cut operational costs countywide. All department employees, with limited exceptions, such as those in public safety functions, are included in the furlough plan.  Learn more...

King County residents who depend on the county’s Web site for updates are getting their information from one of the most innovative, user-friendly portals around, according to e.Republic.com’s Center for Digital Government. The organization has recognized King County with three awards for excellence in Information Technology in its 2009 Best of the Web and Digital Government Achievement Awards.  Learn more...

More than 5,700 children in King County are now receiving publicly-funded health coverage, with most already having seen a doctor and dentist, thanks to the three year old King County Child Health Initiative (CHI) effort. The successes are part of numerous highlights outlined in the 2009 King County Children’s Health Initiative (CHI) Annual Measurement and Evaluation Report that King County Executive Kurt Triplett transmitted to the Metropolitan King County Council today.  Learn more...

Evidence is growing that King County’s Health Reform Initiative appears to be reducing the county’s health care benefit costs. The latest report on the initiative is part of a mounting body of evidence nationally that employee wellness programs in the public and private sector do control costs and improve employee health.  Learn more...

Smart urban growth development is linked with rural land protection under a visionary partnership agreement between the City of Bellevue and King County that County Executive Kurt Triplett transmitted to the King County Council today for approval.   Learn more...

King County Executive Kurt Triplett today announced plans to cut $16.6 million in overhead, administrative and general government services in his 2010 budget proposal, including cuts to the offices of the Executive, budget and strategic planning. Triplet said his budget will give priority to direct services to residents as the global economic crisis continues to cause a steep drop in sale tax revenues and a $50 million shortfall in money needed to fund current levels of county services.  Learn more...

Action 1 – Deferred bus service expansion by first scaling back growth with the exception of the RapidRide program and already-approved Service Partnership agreements. The revenue gap assumes growth in bus service, primarily associated with the implementation of Transit Now. Delaying that expansion closes the gap. This effectively leverages funding from other agencies and saves $36 million over the next four years.  Learn more...

King County residents are invited to share their thoughts to help the county create a strategic plan that consolidates the strategic plans of departments and agencies. King County will collect residents’ ideas and opinions this summer through surveys, public meetings and online feedback.  Learn more...

King County Executive Ron Sims has been sworn in as Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, DC and officially resigned his position as Executive. By Executive Order, the delegated line of succession establishes Sims’ Chief of Staff Kurt Triplett as Interim County Executive with all of the powers and duties of the office.   Learn more...

The Metropolitan King County Council has unanimously confirmed Executive Ron Sims’ appointee Kathleen Van Olst as the new director of the county’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD).  Learn more...

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King County Executive Ron Sims is proposing incentive-based regulations that provide a safe harbor from litigation for developers who reduce greenhouse gases associated with their projects. Developers who reduce carbon emissions by 15 percent of what they would generate by complying with current codes would be designated as "in compliance" with environmental standards under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The change could help reduce the impacts of global warming for this region.  Learn more...

King County Executive Ron Sims will be joined by leaders in the environmental and development community for an announcement.  Learn more...

Executive Ron Sims is pleased to inform citizens of King County that President Barack Obama has declared a federal disaster for the January severe winter storm incident that impacted King County.  Learn more...