Drafter

Clerk 09/22/2020

Title

AN ORDINANCE ratifying the executive emergency budget crisis proclamation for the 2021-2022 biennium budget cycle.

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 state 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") outbreak and confirmation of person-to-person spread in Washington state.

                     B.  COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that 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, the executive issued a proclamation of emergency enabling extraordinary measures to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.  On March 3, 2020, the council passed Motion 15610, affirming the 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 has been extended twice, with the last extension expiring May 31, 2020.

                     E.  On May 31, 2020, the Governor reiterated that a State of Emergency continues to exist but amended the “Stay Home - Stay Healthy” proclamation and renamed it the “Safe Start - Stay Healthy” proclamation, and that except as provided in the phased county reopening plan, all other provisions of the State of Emergency remain in force.

                     F.  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.

                     G.  On June 5, 2020, King County entered Modified Phase 1 of the Safe Start Plan.  Then, on June 19, 2020, King County entered Phase 2 of the Safe Start Plan.  On July 28, 2020, the Governor paused counties progressing in the reopening phases under the state’s Safe Start plan due to continued rise of cases and spread of COVID-19 statewide.  The pause will continue indefinitely.  King County is currently in the high-risk category for disease transmission with 80 cases per 100,000 residents based on county data for the past two weeks.

                     H.  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 through 2022.

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

                     J.  With reduced revenues forecasted through 2022 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.

                     K.  The current circumstance is such that projected county revenues are forecasted and determined to be insufficient to fully fund county agency operations and significant costs savings must be achieved through reductions in service and pay.

                     SECTION 2.  The executive has proclaimed that an emergency budget crisis

exists for the 2021-2022 biennium budget cycle.  The council hereby ratifies the executive's proclamation.