Drafter
Clerk 11/19/2002
Title
A MOTION directing the auditor of King County to collaborate with the auditor of the city of Seattle to develop a work plan that identifies opportunities where the county and the city may partner to provide services more efficiently and directing the executive to assist in the process.
Body
WHEREAS, King County's total 2003 budget is proposed at $3.1 billion, and
WHEREAS, the County's 2003 proposed general fund budget is $495 million, and
WHEREAS, King County provides regional services to all county residents, local services to unincorporated area residents and services to other local governments on a contractual basis, and
WHEREAS, the general fund is experiencing a fiscal shortfall that is the result of declining revenue growth and increasing governmental expenses, and
WHEREAS, the factors that are contributing to the county's fiscal shortfall are also impacting other local governments, including the city of Seattle, and
WHEREAS, King County is aggressively reviewing the general fund for expenditure reductions and revenue enhancements, and
WHEREAS, the city of Seattle is also aggressively reviewing its budget for expenditure reductions and revenue enhancements, and
WHEREAS, King County reduced the general fund budget by $41 million in 2002 and faces a general fund deficit of $52 million for 2003 and projects significant deficits in 2004 and 2005, and
WHEREAS, the city of Seattle reduced its adopted budget by $7 million in 2002 and the proposed 2003 and 2004 budgets reflect a $60 million general fund gap between projected revenues and current expenses, and
WHEREAS, the council, the executive and the judiciary of King County consistently search for ways in which to provide effective services at the lowest possible cost, and
WHEREAS, the legislative, executive and judicial of the government of the city of Seattle are also consistently seeking alternatives to provide services at the lowest possible cost while maintaining public policy objectives, and
WHEREAS, the city of Seattle and King County each provide some services and conduct some internal support functions that are similar in nature, and
WHEREAS, there may exist possibilities to achieve economies of scale in the provision of some services or internal support functions that would allow King County and the city of Seattle to provide the same level of service at a lower cost to and at a greater convenience for their citizens, and
WHEREAS, the Seattle city council is considering the adoption of a similar resolution to pursue a collaborative city-county review of potential cost savings through partnering of city and county services and internal support functions;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the council of King County:
The council directs the county auditor, in collaboration with the auditor of the city of Seattle, to explore opportunities for improved services and more efficient use of public resources through the partnering of selected county and city services.
The council directs the executive to identify key staff of county departments and agencies, including, but not limited to, separately elected officials, to participate with the Auditors in refining and selecting potential projects for further study.
The auditors shall collaborate on the preparation of a work plan, which shall include the following:
A. An identification of those programs and services which will be studied in greater depth;
B. A schedule for conducting the feasibility studies regarding the partnering efforts of the city of Seattle and King County in 2003 and 2004;
C. An estimate of potential outcomes from the studies;
D. An estimate of the costs and staff time for the studies; and
E. Recommendations, as appropriate, for the staffing and execution of the joint study of the services and programs by the county's and the city's offices.
The work plan shall be submitted to the county council and to the city council by April 30, 2003. The respective councils will review the work plans and give further direction to the auditors as appropriate.