Drafter
Clerk 11/09/2011
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AN ORDINANCE that adopts the 2012 Annual Budget and makes appropriations for the operation of county agencies and departments and capital improvements for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012, and an ordinance that adopts the 2012/2013 Biennium Budget and makes appropriations for the operation of the department of transportation and the department of development and environmental services for the fiscal biennium beginning January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2013.
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PREAMBLE:
King County continues to face the fiscal challenges created by the Great Recession. In the last four years, the county has trimmed $233 million from our general fund budget. Tough choices were made with those cuts, but the county's proactive approach to reforming county government is reflected in the 2012 budget.
It is a budget that maintains basic human needs, such as food, shelter and safety, for our most-vulnerable residents in consistency with our strategic plan and our commitment to equity and social justice.
It is a budget that does not spend our reserves, including our rainy day fund, and it maintains the county's AAA bond rating.
However, it is not without sacrifice. This budget has 298 fewer FTEs, and the reality of looming state budget cuts could have a dramatic impact on the county's most basic services moving forward.
The 2012 budget, as adopted by the metropolitan King County council, addresses our immediate needs, sets careful priorities and limits expenditures. But the budget also maintains the county's commitment to reforming government by continuing to challenge all county agencies to find three percent savings by doing their work more efficiently.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings: The council makes the following findings of fact:
A. King County government is responsible for providing a variety of services to all residents of the county. These include: regio...

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