October 12, 1999

Sims wants $766 million for capital projects

By SAM BENNETT
Journal Staff reporter

King County Executive Ron Sims on Monday unveiled his 2000 budget, aimed at slightly reducing the current tax rate while focusing on capital improvements.

The $2.6 billion budget includes $766 million in spending for capital improvements to transit, roads, wastewater, parks and other major public facilities.

The plan reduces the county's tax rate from the current rate of $1.39 per $1,000 assessed value to $1.38. While Sims said the plan would "lower the tax burden on our county residents," most bills will increase since the average assessed value of a single-family home in the county is expected to jump from $205,000 to $225,000 in 2000.

"I urge each of you, as you review and eventually adopt this budget, to look at this budget as a blueprint for how we will continue providing quality services with efficient delivery for all the county's residents," Sims told the Council Council.

Jane Hague, chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, said she and the council would pursue a "lean and mean" budget as they refine Sims' spending plan. The council is expected to adopt the final budget in late November.

Highlights of Sims' plan include more than $6.2 million for bond-funded projects as part of the 101 Ballfields Initiative, $1.5 million for the Transfer of Development Credits Progam, and an additional $10.5 million to help coordinate compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

The county's roads plan calls for work on about 100 bridges, maintenance of more than 2,500 miles of roads and maintaining 55,000 signs and 415 road signals.

The first public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Interlake High School, 16245 N.E. 24th St., Bellevue. The next will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Burien City Hall, 415 S.W. 150th St.

"We will continue acceleration of the roads building projects responding to residents throughout the county who have said their No. 1 concern is getting around," Sims said. "I will continue to move forward with transit-oriented development that makes better use of existing urban lands and mixed-use development, including housing near transit hubs and park-and-ride facilities."

Of the $2.6 billion, $450 million goes toward county jails, police, parks, human services and administrative departments. Another $1.4 billion includes expenses on transit, roads, solid waste and wastewater treatment, public health and assorted other departments. The remainder, about $766 million, will be spent on capital improvements if Sims' budget is approved.

About 64 percent of the $450 million would be spent in the criminal justice area. Sims proposes an additional $1.7 million for overtime and labor costs for the Sheriff's Office, including the addition of 42 full-time employees.

Sims noted that his Smart Growth Intiative is working. Between 1995 and 1999, the county helped increase growth in urban areas. He said the urban areas increased their share of new growth from 89 percent to 94 percent while reducing growth in rural areas from 11 percent to 6 percent, he said.

County Council member Greg Nickels said the council will ensure funding for critical, basic regional services. "Making unwise cuts in public health and safety, or essential human services, could be disasterous," he said. "The county cannot afford to put public health at risk."