'The People's Budget': King County Seeks Ideas For $10M Fund

KING COUNTY, WA — Residents who live, work, or frequent five unincorporated King County communities will soon have a chance to weigh in on how the county should invest $10 million earmarked for capital projects and other programs.

The county allotted the funds in the 2021-2022 budget to help spur improvements in East Renton, Fairwood, East Federal Way, North Highline/White Center and Skyway/West Hill, which officials said have historically received inequitable investments.

Here is how the funding breaks down:

• East Federal Way: $1.96 million for capital projects
• East Renton: $301,000 for capital projects
• Fairwood: $720,000 for capital projects
• North Highline/White Center: $3.1 million for capital projects, $540,000 for services and programs.
• Skyway/West Hill: $3.9 million for capital projects, $810,000 for services and programs.

After spending roughly six months building up the "The People's Budget - Your Voice, Your Choice," a new participatory budgeting framework, the county is working this month to share information about how the process works and hear ideas directly from the community on how the money should be spent.

"Now we're coming to the exciting part," said Gloria Briggs, the participatory budgeting coordinator. "Ultimately, residents will nominate projects that they're passionate about, and the community will vote on which projects receive funding."

The county said February marks the "brainstorming" phase of the project, followed by developing project proposals in March and April, final voting in May, with funds awarded beginning in June. Anyone 12 and older who lives, works, owns a business, uses services, or attends school or church in the five communities is eligible to participate. The deadline to submit ideas arrives on March 5.

Here's how to submit an idea:

• Online: https://publicinput.com/YourVoiceYourChoice.
• Submit your ideas in a video: https://flipgrid.com/7e157141.
• Paper Form: Look for Idea Submission boxes in your area.
• Email or phone: Contact gloria.briggs@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-5546 to leave a message.

Funding for capital projects comes from bonds, while services and programs are paid for out of King County's general fund and marijuana sales tax revenue.