Deshawn Quinn, King County Councilmember for District 5, told the Des Moines City Council on March 27 that the county budget committee revised a proposed six-year parks levy to increase operations funding and direct more pass-through dollars to South King County cities like Des Moines.

Quinn said the council amended the levy distribution from a 50/50 population/assessed-value split to a 60/40 population/assessed-value model and used additional equity adjustments for communities with unmet needs. "This proposal uses an equity model that benefits South King County cities," Quinn said. He gave a real-time estimate that Des Moines’ allocation under recent committee changes could reach about $2,000,487, and he said his office secured a $3,000,000 allocation for Des Moines for turf conversion of ball fields.

The change also reduced the levy rate from the executive's original proposal; Quinn said the revised levy rate in committee is about 23.51 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and gave an example, saying the tax for a medium-value home would be roughly $16.53 per month under the revised figure. He said about $467 million would be dedicated to operations and maintenance across the county and that other line items include a $13.5 million ball-field grant program and a $55 million investment in the Lake Desire (Lake De Sea) Trail section.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the split between operations and new projects, annual amounts over six years, and whether earmarked project funds could be reallocated if a specific federal grant did not come through. Quinn responded that some allocations were specifically identified as ball-field funding but that requests can be adjusted during the budget process and through follow-up with his office.

Council discussion after Quinn’s presentation focused on how Des Moines — which does not have its own metropolitan parks district — could access the levy funding and compete for grants. Council members asked staff to obtain the most recent written allocation numbers and to continue discussions with Quinn’s office about the city’s priority projects and any needed earmark flexibility.

Quinn said the levy will be considered by the Regional Policy Committee on April 3 and then by the King County Council for potential placement on the August primary ballot. The council did not take a formal vote on the levy at the March 27 meeting; city staff were directed to request the revised allocation tables from the county and prepare draft language for the council to consider once the numbers are confirmed.

Looking ahead, council members said they want formal figures in writing before taking a position and asked staff to relay the council’s interest in earmark flexibility for projects that may lose federal support.

The council will consider any staff-prepared letter or formal position after the city receives the updated allocation details from King County.