King County Executive Shannon Braddock on Tuesday transmitted her proposed budget for the 2026–27 biennium to the County Council, calling it a “responsible, values driven budget” that protects core services while preparing for federal funding uncertainty. “I am transmitting my proposed budget for the 20 26, 20 27 biennium,” Braddock said during a formal address to the council.

Braddock told council members the county faced a projected general-fund shortfall that rose from $150 million to $175 million earlier this year but that new state and local revenue steps prevented deeper cuts. She said the proposal maintains steady reserves, creates a Medicaid contingency fund and “sets aside $31,000,000 from the hospital tax fund to protect our health care system against potential cuts.”

The executive outlined nearly $30 million in new public-safety investments including juvenile probation counselors, expanded reentry education and a detective position to address case backlogs, and thanked council leaders who helped avert proposed cuts to the sheriff’s office and the prosecutor’s office. "These include reducing gun violence and providing support services for victims," Braddock said when listing priorities the proposed budget would fund.

Braddock also proposed targeted investments in behavioral health, homelessness response and transit. The proposal includes about $275 million in funding for Harborview Medical Center over the biennium to support operations and voter‑approved capital projects, she said, and roughly $3 million to support a countywide artificial intelligence policy and related tools. The budget would add $4 million for food security and backfill 11 emergency-management positions after federal funding ended.

The executive repeatedly framed the proposal around uncertainty at the federal level. "More than ever, local government has become the last line of the defense in protecting the well‑being of our communities," she said. She said litigation and advocacy by King County preserved nearly $170 million in federal funds the county otherwise risked losing.

Council members will now review the executive’s transmittal during the fall budget process. Braddock asked the council to complete deliberations before a leadership transition later this year and pledged her administration’s cooperation with the incoming executive and the council. The council’s budget and fiscal management committee will carry the item through its regular review and amendment process before a final vote.