title

AN ORDINANCE relating to use of the rainy day reserve fund in the 2021-2022 biennium budget cycle; determining an emergency exists under K.C.C. 4A.200.570; and declaring an emergency.

body

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Findings:

                     A.  On February 29, 2020, the Governor of Washington state declared a state of emergency in all counties in Washington and directed that the plans and procedures of the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19").

                     B.  COVID-l9 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death and can easily spread from person to person; and is classified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic that spreads easily from person to person and may result in serious illness or death.

                     C.  On March 1, 2020, King County executive Dow Constantine signed a proclamation of emergency enabling "extraordinary measures" to respond to the COVID-l9 outbreak.  On March 3, 2020, the council passed Motion 15610 affirming the executive's proclamation of emergency.

                     D.  As a result of the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19, its significant progression in Washington state, and the high risk it poses to our most vulnerable populations, on March 23, 2020, the Governor issued a "Stay Home - Stay Healthy" order prohibiting, with limited exceptions, all people in Washington state from leaving their homes or participating in social, spiritual and recreational gatherings of any kind regardless of the number of participants, and required all nonessential businesses in Washington state to cease operations except for performing basic minimal operations.  In describing COVID-19's impact on public health and the economy, the order noted the pandemic’s progression in Washington state that continues to threaten the economy and remains a public disaster affecting life, health, property or the public peace.  The order was extended twice, with the last extension expiring May 31, 2020.

                     E.  The Stay Home - Stay Healthy order and the related public safety preventative measures, including social distancing are causing devastating economic effects in Washington and across the nation.

                     F.  The county is experiencing extraordinary and unprecedented economic conditions and severe fiscal challenges across all county funds, which is resulting in a significant shortfall in the amount of funding needed to sustain the current level of general operations in 2020 and thereafter.

                     G.  Through ordinance 19115, the county council ratified the executive’s emergency budget crisis proclamation for the remainder of the 2019-2020 budget biennium.

                     H.  With reduced revenues forecasted for the remainder of 2020 and thereafter, the county is working hard to find innovative ways to gain efficiencies in all county functions in order to minimize service reductions to the public.

                     I.  On May 29, 2020, the executive issued a proclamation declaring a budget emergency crisis for the remainder of the 2019-2020 biennium budget cycle.  On June 23, 2020, the council ratified the proclamation. 

                     J.  The current circumstance is such that projected county revenues are forecasted and determined to be insufficient to fully fund county agency operations for the 2021-2022 biennium budget cycle.

                     K.  On September 16, 2020, the executive issued a proclamation declaring a budget emergency crisis for the 2021-2022 biennium budget cycle.  The proclamation was ratified through Ordinance XXXX (Proposed Ordinance 2020-0323).

                     L.  In 2007, the county council adopted Ordinance 15961, creating the rainy day reserve fund.

                     M.  The rainy day reserve fund is available in the event of an emergency as declared by the council for the purposes listed in K.C.C. 4A.200.570.E.

                     SECTION 2.

                     A.  The council determines that the significant shortfall in revenues forecasted for the 2021-2022 biennium is an emergency under K.C.C. 4A.200.570.E.4.

                     B.  The council declares that the rainy day reserve fund shall be used in an amount to be appropriated by the council to fund county government in 2021 and 2022.

                     C.  The council finds as a fact and declares that an emergency exists, and that this

ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety or for the support of county government and its existing public institutions.