Title
AN ORDINANCE related to salaries of county councilmembers; providing for the reduction of annual increases to the compensation paid to councilmembers; amending Ordinance 8066, Section 1.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. King County has been experiencing severe fiscal crises for several consecutive budget years.
B. The county has worked collaboratively with its represented and unrepresented employees to reduce employee compensation including reductions in the annual increases intended to offset the cost of living.
C. The county has worked with its employees to reduce the cost of providing other benefits to county employees through reductions in the costs associated with providing healthcare including increased employee contributions to the cost of health care.
D. Section 220.20 of the King County Charter requires the county council to establish the compensation to be paid to all county officers and employees. In 1983, Ordinance 6603 enacted an annual increase of six percent per year for councilmembers. In 1987, Ordinance 8066 reduced this to an annual increase in compensation of three percent.
E. In periods of significant inflation this adjustment resulted in a lower increase in compensation than that provided to employees. Cost-of-living increases for employees have been based on changes in the consumer price index. It is appropriate to limit increases in councilmember compensation so that they will not exceed increases in the consumer price index.
F. The state constitution prohibits reduction of salaries of elected officials after their election or during their term of office. This creates significant lag time in reducing the increase in their salaries.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 8066, Section 1, is hereby amended to read as follows:
A. Consistent with Article XI, Section 8 of the Washington State Constitution, RCW 36.40.205, and Section ((960)) 220 of the King County Charter((;)), the compensatio...

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