Title
AN ORDINANCE proposing an amendment to Article 4 of the King County Charter; authorizing the council to adopt ordinances providing for biennial budgeting, and submitting the same to the voters of the county for their ratification or rejection at the November 2003 general election.
Body
PREAMBLE:
King County's total 2003 budget is proposed at $3.1 billion.
The county's proposed 2003 current expense (CX) fund budget is $495 million.
The CX fund is experiencing a fiscal shortfall that is the result of declining revenue growth and increasing governmental expenses.
King County is aggressively reviewing CX expenditures for reductions.
King County reduced the CX fund budget by $41 million in 2002 and faces continuing general fund deficits of $52 million for 2003 and additional reductions of $24 million in 2004 and another $24 million in 2005, for a total of $141 million over four years.
The citizens of King County have requested the council and the executive to improve county processes and programs so that there are efficiencies and economies realized in the funding and provision of county services.
Solutions to the fiscal crisis and the general fund structural deficit require consistent planning and effort over more than one calendar year.
The citizens of King County have requested the council and the executive to improve county processes and programs so efficiencies and economies are realized in the funding and provision of county services.
In response to the budget crisis, the council has formed the King County commission on governance and the executive formed the King County general government budget advisory task force advisory bodies to review the budget crisis and make recommendations to address the county's general fund revenues and efficiency and accountability of services and programs funded by the general fund.
The council and executive desire to respond quickly to the recommendations of both advisory groups and have identified the potent...

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