Rahr is Making More Noise

It was a little quiet for a few weeks there as the King County estimated 2009 budget deficit estimate creeped up over $90 million (announced by Exec. Ron Sims via Twitter). Yesterday morning Sheriff Sue Rahr told the County Council that successfully getting annexations through will not alleviate the problem—at least as far as public safety is concerned. Annexations are oft-cited by Sims office as part of the solution to the budget crunch.

She's also kicking off another Public Safety in Peril tour after Sims unveils his proposed budget on Oct. 13.

I'm out of town and missed the actual testimony, but here's the summary kicked out by Rahr's:

In January 2008 Lea Hill and West Hill were annexed to Auburn, and in March 2008 Benson Hill was annexed to Renton. These annexations were not in fact “revenue neutral”. An additional 1 million dollars was stripped from the Sheriff's Office 2008 budget to make up for the lost revenue to the County’s General Fund.

Only eleven positions in the Sheriff's Office were related to the decreased work load because of the annexations. However the Budget Office cut a total of 21 positions from KCSO.

The eleven positions were identified by the Sheriff's Office as positions that could be safely cut without endangering deputy safety or the safety of the public. This was done after a comprehensive operational analysis considered response times, geography, staffing levels and alternative patrol deployments. Nevertheless, an additional ten positions were cut unrelated to the annexed areas simply to balance the budget.

Topics: County of King

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Runoff Voting is Back on the Table

They have it in Australia.

Instant runoff voting—a pet issue of Krist Novoselic's and an early subject of consideration for the group recommending changes to the King County Charter—isn't headed for a public vote any time soon, but it hasn't received the kiss of quiet bureaucratic death either.

From a press release this afternoon:

The Metropolitan King County Council approved legislation adopting a recommendation from the King County Charter Review Commission to study instant runoff voting (also known as ranked choice voting). The legislation adopted by the Council on October 6 requests that a written report documenting the advantages and disadvantages of instant runoff voting be presented to the council no later than January 2, 2010.

Topics: County of King

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Ron Sims on Nickelsville

It seems the only government agency without a dog in the Nickelsville fight is King County so SW asked Ron Sims via his Twitter page what he thought about the whole thing. He responds:

"The Governor's reprieve was a very good decision."

Topics: City of Seattle and County of King

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Sims Blogs the Budget

After announcing the rising budget deficit on Twitter, Ron Sims posted the following to his blog today:

In King County our budget process has always been placed above political ambition and parochial self-interest of different branches. It is my fervent hope that that tradition will continue as we grapple with the most difficult budget the County has ever faced. Certainly that is how I will conduct my budget negotiations. I hope all elected officials in KC will join me in that spirit

The question for you, the taxpayer, voter, and resident of King County is: do you have any skin in this budgetary game?

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Topics: County of King

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Sims Twitters the Budget Amid Criticism From Former Economist

Courtesy of King County

Late last night, Ron Sims posted the following on his Twitter page: "Just revised King County's budget shortfall from 86 to 90 million dollars. Inflation and a sluggish economy are reducing revenue growth."

The ever rising projected 2009 general fund budget deficit is the source of endless political back and forth between Sims and the council, particularly council member Larry Phillips, who is considering a run for the Executive's seat next year. But the latest upward revision comes with a twist. Chris Bushnell, Chief Economist for the executive controlled budget office from 2002 to 2008, says the underlying problem isn't revenues stunted by Tim Eyman's 2001 initiative capping property tax hikes at 1 percent. Bushnell says both the council and the Executive inflated spending—specifically among their staffs—well beyond the plan four years ago. Bushnell created a Power Point presentation to that effect in early August and took it to Sims. Printouts of the slides have been circulating among county personnel and staff ever since.

Bushnell says he started the project as the deficit number began climbing and county officials started bickering about it, he heard “a lot of concern about the economy, concern about health care, concern about Tim Eyman.”

“My goal was to raise awareness that its their spending choices that will determine the county’s financial health,” Bushnell, who holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Washington, says. The presentation argues that when large deficits in the early part of this decade were finally erased in 2005, the budget office projected revenues that have been relatively close to the actual revenues through the first two quarters of 2008. The money coming in is about what he expected in 2005, Bushnell says, not dramatically less as a result of a bad economy.

It’s the expenditures that are way up. Bushnell has a chart, he says created from publicly available budget documents, showing that from 2006 through the first two quarters of 2008, spending is about $116 million more than what was projected in 2005. Most of that, he says, is rising salaries and expanded full time staffs.

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Topics: County of King

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Sims Twitters III: Goodbye Denver

A few of us watched the big Obama speech at the Spitfire in a room that felt like a religious revival via live satellite feed—with nachos. But almost as much as I was excited to hear what the no-longer-presumptive nominee had to say, I was looking forward to the last round of twitters from Ron Sims (recaps here and here). Here it is:

* The stadium is almost filled. Yet thousands still stand in line as far as the eye can see. I've never witnessed anything like this. about 18 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Sheryl Crow is rocking the house. Folks are really getting into it. When Senator Obama comes out this place will explode. about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* I was in Jerusalem the last time I saw a never ending line of people. Christians, Jews, and Moslems all in pilgrimage. about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Stevie Wonder is taking the crowd to a wonderful place. about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Al Gore is getting one heck of a well deserved ovation. about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* They've started the wave. about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Monica Early just won the hearts of many people. She'll probably become an advertisement personality. about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Michelle just came into the stadium about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* They're playing "Ain't No Stopping Us Now." He must be close to coming into the stadium. about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Liftoff! about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* oh my goodness. Wow, that was a great speech. about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Exhausted and elated is the name of the day. about 2 hours ago from TwitterBerry

Follow all Sims moves, decisions and observations on the Twitter page.

Update:

* Sen McCain's announcement certainly was a bomshell. Gov Palin lacks the heart beat away expierence. But, she certainly does win elections. about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry

Topics: Campaign 2008 and County of King

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Pundits, Schmundits--More Ron Sims Convention Twittering

As we noted a couple of days ago, Ron Sims is kicking out Twitters at the rate of a couple every hour from the Dem's big party in Denver. In case you haven't been following along on his page, here's a glance at his last 24 hours in the Mile High City.

* I just checked the Obama box and signed my name. The convention is starting and the musical introduction is "Getting Ready, Here I Come." about 22 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* The Washington delegation has gone wild. So far, we are clearly the noise in this convention. We outdanced the other eight states near us. about 22 hours ago from TwitterBerry

[Note from Daily Weekly: Pause for a minute to visualize that.... Okay, moving on.]

* Melissa Ethridge has this place rockin'. about 19 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* President Bill and Senator Hillary Clinton are still rock stars. about 18 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* President Bill Clinton still has it. Wow about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Governor Gregoire is speaking. She woke us up! Norm Dicks and Jay Inslee are here as well. We just sang Happy Birthday to Mike Gregoire. about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Governor Gregoire is joking about the scripting of the convention floor activity. She wants us to pray for members in the military. about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Norm Dicks is speaking to us. Trust me, when Norm speaks you better listen. He's applauding the Clintons for unifying the Democrat party. about 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* They have green-bike program at the convention. Just returned from a good ride. It is a sunny day, so it was an enjoyable ride. 29 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Topics: Campaign 2008, County of King, and Politics

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Twitter-pated Sims at the Dem Convention

In case you've ever wondered, blow by blow, how the Denver Demofest is going for the King County Exec, Ron Sims is giving regular updates via blackberry on his Twitter page. Observations cover everything from policy and transit fares to the heat. Some highlights:

* Going to Washington State Democrats delegation breakfast meeting. Everyone is jazzed about seeing history being made at this convention. 05:42 AM August 25, 2008 from TwitterBerry

* Congressman Jay Inslee is addressing us. He is a very good speaker. Mayor Nickels is also in the audience. 07:12 AM August 25, 2008 from TwitterBerry

* We're at a Willie Nelson concert. People are upbeat because of tonight's opening session. This is a concert to support sustainablity. about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Senator Murray gave a very good speech. She said it was important to support our military veterans and to build the next tanker in the US. about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Heading back to my hotel on light rail line. I prayerfully hope Sound Transit selects a ticket vendor other than the one used by TheRide about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* Denver is very hot. I forgot to drink lots of water. Just left a reception after drinking four bottles of water. Still got heat sick. Ugh! about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry

* There must've been serious threat to Sen Obama. I've never seen to many well armed and equipped police in my life. They are everywhere. about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry

Topics: Campaign 2008 and County of King

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Ron Sims on Wheels

We love to run this photo, any time we can find an excuse to run this photo. But maybe it's time for a new photo? Ron Sims will be arriving via bicycle at the REI in SLU tomorrow at 3 p.m. to help announce the Green Bike Project. In a press release, this new program is described thusly:

"A new program aimed at reducing traffic congestion is hoping to get 300 people out of their cars and onto two wheels for commuting. The incentive for participants is a chance to earn a brand new commuter bicycle."

King County, WSDOT, REI, and the Cascade Bicycle Club are listed as the program sponsors. Essentially, commuters will pledge to drive less and pedal more until next May, earning one of 200 REI brand commuter bikes in the process. (100 other riders will earn free mechanical work.) It appears, however, that those lucky 200 have already signed up for their rides, so don't expect any free give-aways.

Whether they get bikes as fancy as Sims', or will wear similar cycling attire, is a matter we'll leave to the photographers to document.

Topics: County of King and Transportation

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More County Budget E-Barbs

In case you're still following the un-ending fight over the rising King County budget deficit (now projected at over $86 million), the latest is an e-mail from County Budget Director Bob Cowan responding to Sheriff Sue Rahr's previous note to staff. An excerpt:

The county is not well served if information being provided to the public about the deficit and potential reductions is not factually correct or is misleading. It damages the trust of the public in county government and does not advance the important effort we as a county need to undertake with the State legislature to provide long term solutions to our structural budget problems.

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Topics: County of King

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Today in County Budget Wars

On Monday, King County Executive Ron Sims told the council that the ballooning 2009 general fund budget deficit is up to $86.5 million. Then the County Council voted to make public safety a priority, but they don't start their budget deliberations until they get the Executive's proposals in October.

That same day, Sims' office told Sheriff Sue Rahr that she needed to come up with another $2.5 million to cut from her budget. That's on top of the $7.5 million Sims told her to ax from her budget earlier this year, according to an e-mail Rahr sent to Department of Public Safety staff yesterday. The e-mail also notes that her many of her original proposals, including reducing the overall budget of the communal overhead costs all departments pay into, were rejected. (In an earlier interview with the Weekly, Sims Chief of Staff Kurt Triplett said those cuts were nonstarters.)

So now, Rahr says, the initial 20 deputy positions she proposed to cut from the budget will increase. By how much, she doesn't specify.

But as Rahr writes in her e-mail: "Of course the fight is not over." With the budget eventually headed for the council, Rahr is promising to "fight vigorously to show how these unprecedented cuts to the Sheriff's Office will put lives and property in danger."

You can read more of SW'sRahr, council members, and Sims as the deficit continues to rise. The entire text of Rahr's e-mail is below the jump. Sims' own e-mailed explanation for the rising deficit numbers is here.

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