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Executive Office priorities Executive Triplett's 9 for 9 in 2009These are priorities Executive Triplett is working to complete by the end of his term, which began with his appointment in May 2009 and ends with certification of the election of the next King County Executive on November 24, 2009.
| Prioritiy |
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| 1 |
Transmit balanced budget using state tools while preserving our AAA credit rating. |
Executive Triplett proposed parks closures and preliminary budget cuts to assist in balancing the budget. Triplett delivered his proposed budget to the King County Council on Sept. 28. On Nov. 18, the County was awarded a AAA bond rating from three major credit agencies who cited excellent financial management,
willingness to make politically tough but necessary budget adjustments,
and low to moderate debt levels as the keys to earning the high rating for the fifth straight year.
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| 2 |
Transmit Metro Transit solution that closes the gap and is supported by the region. |
Executive Triplett proposed fixes for the Metro budget deficit that preserves critical services and shares impacts region wide in his nine -point plan. Learn how Metro is impacted in the Executive 2010 proposed budget |
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| 3 |
Prepare King County government and the region for Green River flood. |
In progress. Executive Triplett has directed efforts to prepare the county and region for potential flooding related to abutment damage at the Howard Hanson Dam and the risks associated with the structure until it is repaired. Learn how to prepare for possible floods and see an overview of communication and outreach efforts. Watch or read a presentation made to King County Council. On Sept. 10, King County declared a pre-emptive emergency in preparation for potential Green River flooding. Read the press release and the proclamation (PDF). Triplett also proposed $40 million to shore up Green River levees. |
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| 4 |
Prepare King County and the region for the potential return of the Swine Flu. |
Completed. H1N1 resolution was transmitted to Council as well as the H1N1 proviso response. Learn more about flu preparedness. |
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| 5 |
Complete draft of Countywide Strategic Plan. |
Learn more about the Countywide Strategic Plan or read and comment on the draft plan which was released on Nov. 10. |
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| 6 |
Extend Jail contracts with cities. |
King County and cities reach tentative agreement extending jail services contract through 2015 to provide three more years of service, additional jail beds for cities and cost recovery for King County based on services provided. Learn more... |
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| 7 |
Acquire the BNSF Eastside Corridor along with regional partners. |
King County Executive Kurt Triplett and representatives of several local government agencies and private partners have signed an agreement to preserve the Eastside Rail Corridor and place it in public ownership. Learn more about the BNSF Eastside Rail and Trail Corridor. |
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| 8 |
Propose 2009 ballot measure for public health, public safety and human services. |
Dedicated King County tax for public health, human services and criminal justice proposed. Learn more... |
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| 9 |
Transition KC government to the next Executive. |
In progress. |
√ | The following are on-going priorities of the King County Executive office started under Executive Ron Sims and continued under Executive Kurt Triplett. Equity and Social Justice Initiative  The King County Equity and Social Justice Initiative takes aim at long-standing and persistent local inequities and injustices. Government and local communities are better prepared than ever before to address these challenges. This initiative aims to end persistent local inequities and injustices that result in, among other things, higher rates of disease among low-income populations and disproportionate rates of young black men in jail. Transportation A balanced mix of transit and highways is key to keeping the people and the economy of King County moving. Every day over 300,000 riders use the King County Metro bus system, one of the ten largest in the nation, and operates one of the nation’s largest carpool and park-and-ride systems. And thousands of residents depend on the County’s network of 2,000 miles of roads and 220 bridges maintained by crews who work 24/7. Executive Sims is working with regional leaders to ensure that key elements of the region’s infrastructure that are in danger of failing, like the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the SR 520 bridge are replaced, and that congestion is addressed at our worst bottlenecks. The Executive has also been instrumental in providing transit alternatives to congestion such as the Metro system and the light rail line that will open from Downtown Seattle to SeaTac Airport in 2009. Executive Sims Transit Now initiative proposes to add more frequent and faster bus service to the county’s busiest and most congested roads and highways. Learn more... Financial strengthKing County 's exceptional financial management was cited by the nation's three bond rating agencies as the county earned AAA bond ratings from all three in 2005. Conservative fiscal policies and more than $135 million in cuts while preserving core services during lean budget years helped earned the AAA rating that is among the highest of any local government nationally. Additionally, King County’s investment pool for short term investments of cash reserves for King County and 100 local government entities, has earned Standard and Poors highest rating for any government in the three-state region of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Learn more... Open space and trailsKing County's quality of life and the health of its citizens depends on providing recreational opportunities and all the environmental benefits of 170 miles of regional trails and more than 130,000 acres of open space and forests. Learn more... Environmental protection Saving Puget Sound is the top environmental priority for Executive Sims who has been a key leader in the region’s salmon recovery efforts since Chinook salmon were listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. And now, another icon of the Northwest, killer whales have been listed as endangered. Science-based recovery efforts include restoration projects, preservation of open space, new collaborative efforts in watersheds and innovations such as new technology for the $1.4 billion Brightwater sewage treatment that will go on line in 2010. Global warmingKing County is taking actions, providing leadership and planning for the future in response to scientific evidence that the climate in the Pacific Northwest is among the most rapidly changing in the world. In addition to being a leader in regional planning, the county operates the state’s largest fleet of biodiesel-fueled buses (Metro Transit), is providing infrastructure and planning for regional water supply; reducing urban sprawl by using growth management and preservation of forests and open space. Learn more... Health care reformUnder the leadership of former Executive Ron Sims, King County has been tackling healthcare reform on two fronts for the past few years with innovative approaches that are becoming national models. Early efforts to control county employee health care costs have produced cost reductions and health improvements, and the region's top corporations, health-care providers and governments have joined an alliance founded and once-chaired by Sims that is working to control costs while increasing the quality of health care. Additionally, former Executive Sims spearheaded a land use study that shows people who live in ‘walkable’ communities are healthier. The study, which explores the linkage between how communities and transportation systems are built, and their effect on everything from driving habits to physical fitness, to develop healthier communities, is being used in King County to help guide policy decions. For more information, see HealthScape. Pandemic FluKing County efforts to protect its citizens and plan for a pandemic flu is receiving national attention. Executive’s $5.9 million budget for pandemic flu preparation is helping the county secure antiviral medication, and provide outreach and planning for residents, especially vulnerable populations and healthcare providers. On Sept. 10, King County declared a pre-emptive emergency in preparation for potential Green River flooding. Read the press release and the proclamation (PDF).King County technology innovationsKing County is evaluating new technology that supports interoperability between communication protocols, creating a “virtual hybrid” communications network, adding wifi and video surveillance to buses and expanding wifi in white center. Learn more...
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