King County offices will be closed Jan. 1 for New Year’s and Jan. 2 for furlough

Limited county services will be available to residents

On Thursday, Jan. 1, all King County Buildings will be closed for the New Year's holiday, followed by a closure on Friday, Jan. 2, for the first of 10 county furlough days next year.

The furlough is a cost-savings measure: Most King County staff will be off and most County buildings will be closed. The closure is the first of 10 required unpaid furlough days off in 2009 that will help reduce King County's operating costs for the year. All department employees, with limited exception, are included in the furlough plan.

On Jan. 2, all King County buildings will be closed for the furlough, except the following:

• Youth Service Center
• King County Courthouse
• King County Regional Communications and Emergency Service Center (911)
• Maleng Regional Justice Center
• District Courts (7 locations)
• The Community Psychiatric Clinic at the North Public Health Center
• The Health Point clinic at the Federal Way Public Health Center

In addition, Rainier Park Clinic (NeighborCare Health) co-located at the Columbia Public Health Center will also be open.

Signs about the closure will be posted in advance in public buildings. Information will also be posted on the county's Web site. Unless otherwise specified, furloughed employees will not be responding to e-mail or voice mail on furlough days.

King County Executive Ron Sims reached agreement on the 10 furlough days with King County union leaders in October as part of a plan to reduce county operating costs and close the unprecedented $93.4 million 2009 budget gap King County faced this year. The Metropolitan King County Council ratified the plan as part of its 2009 budget process.

The proposed furlough days fall next to existing 2009 holidays or weekends and were strategically chosen to limit impacts on the public who depend on King County services. The selected furlough days tend to be some of the slowest days of the year with the fewest phone calls and requests for service.

2009 King County Furlough Days are:

• Friday, Jan. 2, 2009
• Friday, Feb. 13, 2009
• Friday, April 10, 2009
• Friday, May 22, 2009
• Friday, June 19, 2009
• Monday, July 6, 2009
• Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
• Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
• Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009
• Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009

Furlough day services and changes

On Thursday, Jan. 1, Metro buses will operate on a Sunday schedule.

On Friday, Jan. 2, buses will operate on a reduced schedule. However, the Metro Customer Information Office and phone line (206-553-3000) will be closed.

Metro pass sales offices at Westlake and King Street Center, Metro pass sales online and phone offices and the Access transportation call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 2.

King County's Boeing Field Terminal Building and regular aviation operations will be open as usual on Jan. 2.

The county's Department of Judicial Administration, Superior Court, and District Courtwill be open as normal on all designated furlough days.

King County Sheriff's Deputies will respond to emergency calls through the 911 system as normal.

Transfer stations: All facilities will be open, with extended hours to 6 p.m. at the Renton and Houghton solid waste transfer stations to accommodate storm-delayed garbage disposal.

King County Crisis and Commitment Services will be available as usual around the clock as needed during the furlough.

King County Animal Care and Control will be closed to the public on New Year's Day and furlough days, but staff and volunteers will be on hand to care for the animals.

For more information on the furlough or budget, see furlough details.