The Council today accepted the final report on the Citizen Budget Priorities initiative, an interactive process to hear directly from county residents on how to best prioritize county services and spend their tax dollars. By motion, the Council expressed its appreciation to the hundreds of citizens who gave of their time, and transmitted the findings to the County Executive to inform him as he prepares instructions to his departments for their 2008 budget submittals.

“We heard that the people of King County want to prioritize programs that keep individuals healthy and provide alternatives to incarceration,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, chair of the Council’s Operating Budget Committee. “For example, ensuring access to public health for the uninsured and underinsured was a real priority, and I will work to make that priority a part of the budget conversation.”

“This outreach project is an important step towards making King County government more understandable, accessible and accountable to the public,” said Councilmember Jane Hague, vice chair of the Operating Budget Committee. “It also provides a baseline measurement for citizen satisfaction with County government.”

Over the past two months, 232 county residents were drawn from a cross-section of geography, income, age, and ethnicity to ensure statistical validity. Participants were polled at five separate workshops using wireless keypads to anonymously record their priorities for county spending. The Council’s Operating Budget, Fiscal Management and Mental Health Committee then held two public forums in North and South King County at which an additional 178 residents joined in evaluating the findings and adding their own input. Another 400 people logged onto the County Council Web site to offer their priorities through an online survey.

Among the key findings from the five community workshops:

Under Health and Human Services, 73 percent of participants of all the workshops placed a premium on the funding of public health clinics, making it their primary public health concern:

In the category of Law, Safety and Justice:

“This initiative has shown us the interest that people from throughout King County have in the budget process,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine, chair of the Council’s Capital Budget Committee. “Their insights, concerns and questions will have an impact on how we construct the 2008 budget.”

“We are grateful for the broad perspectives that hundreds of citizens were willing to share with us about their priorities,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, vice chair of the Capital Budget Committee. “It is great to see so many citizens giving input on what services they value most and rating the level of customer service they receive. It is indeed valuable information. As our population and expenses continue to grow, it is more important than ever to make sure our spending is targeted carefully. These priorities now will go to the county Executive as he begins the process of developing the 2008 budget.”

“Citizens have clearly expressed a desire to invest their tax dollars in programs and services that help vulnerable residents,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, chair of the Council’s Committee of the Whole and of the King County Board of Health. “I am pleased that the Council’s commitment to uninsured, mentally ill, and drug-addicted residents is valued and shared by residents of King County.”

Participants were also asked their budget priorities for transportation issues throughout King County:

The results of the two public forums, which were held in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of North King County and in Kent in South King County, echoed the results of the five community workshops. Three-quarters of the South County participants said health and human services need to be the primary focus of the County’s budget. Half of those responding at the North County forum called the funding of health and human services programs their top budget priority. At both forums, there was a call for funding of the alternatives for incarceration that are part of the district and superior courts. Those attending the forums also joined workshop participants in asking for increased frequency of Metro bus service as an incentive to leave their cars at home.

Responses to the online survey were similar, with online participants saying their budget priorities were on funding human service and court programs.

“The workshops and forums have reconfirmed for us that regardless of where people live in the community, we are all concerned about the health and human service programs that help our neighbors,” said Council Chair Larry Gossett. “The information collected through this entire process will be helpful in both the Executive’s and Council’s deliberations on the 2008 County budget.”

Under the motion adopted today, the Council declared its intent to further deliberate on the report and communicate the Council’s final 2008 budget priorities to the County Executive by August 1.