AdobeStock
With a looming $150 million budget deficit, King County Executive Shannon Braddock’s is implementing a 200-day plan to find new revenue.
Within her limited time as King County executive, Braddock is tasked with filling a $150 million budget gap, further exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s efforts to halt federal funding to the county for continuing its DEI programs.
Braddock was appointed as King County executive Tuesday to a seven-month term. The Metropolitan King County Council unanimously confirmed Braddock to the role. She had been serving as acting county executive since April 1, when she took over for Dow Constantine, who stepped down to become CEO of Sound Transit.
Braddock revealed her 200-day plan on Tuesday, which seeks to build a balanced budget, resist federal actions, and make sure the county is prepared for emergencies before transitioning to a new elected county executive in November.
In order to build that balanced budget, Braddock will work to secure “new revenue” to protect key county priorities. Braddock’s Press Secretary Amy Enbysk told The Center Square that additional revenue may come from House Bill 2015 and House Bill 5818, which are both currently awaiting Gov. Bob Ferguson’s signature.
House Bill 2015 is a 0.1% sales tax option that the King County Council could enact. If approved it would go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, and could generate additional revenue for the 2026-2027 biennium in support of public safety programs.
House Bill 5818 bill would extend the sales tax collection by the state to an additional list of services. If signed, it could generate additional revenue in the 2026-2027 biennium for the county’s general fund, according to Enbysk.
“The additional revenue collection would start in October 2025, so we could receive some additional revenue in 2025,” Enbysk said in an email. “This bill would also increase the tax base for County services related to the [Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund], Health through Housing, and Metro.”
The county’s efforts to find more revenue sources comes as the Trump administration directed federal agency heads to ensure that any federal grant recipient does not run DEI programs. King County is continuing its DEI programs and recently sued the administration over funding threats tied to DEI programs.
Along with new revenue, levy renewals will appear in front of voters in upcoming elections. Ballots this November will include a renewal of the King County Parks Levy and likely the Medic One/EMS Levy, once approved by the county council. These two levies would cost a median county homeowner a combined $409 a year if approved, generating funding going toward the county’s network of medical services and the King County Parks’ budget.
Braddock is also set to transmit the next iteration of the MIDD Behavioral Health Sales Tax, which is a countywide 0.1% sales tax generating approximately $136 million per biennium. This tax goes toward services for people with behavioral health conditions, even as the county attempts to balance its 2026-2027 budget.