Council authorizes chair to send state budget letters and urges preservation of Metro funding and public defense support
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Summary
The council approved motion 2026-0049 authorizing the chair to sign letters to state budget committees on county priorities and passed a verbal motion authorizing a third letter urging state funding for public defense and opposing repeal of a sales tax revenue source that funds Metro.
The King County Council on March 3 authorized the chair to sign two letters to state legislative committees outlining the county's priorities in the operating and transportation budgets, and separately approved a verbal motion for a third letter urging that state actions preserve funding for public defense and the sales-tax source that supports Metro.
Chair Sarah Perry introduced motion 2026-0049 as time sensitive because the state legislature was negotiating supplemental transportation and operating budgets that affect county services and Metro. Wendy Suhu from central staff was available to answer procedural questions about the letters' attachments.
Councilmember Balducci requested the council also authorize a third letter relating to taxation policy — specifically, support for funding public defense and opposition to repeal of a sales tax on services relied upon by Metro. Legal counsel Monique Cohen and staff explained the council could take a separate verbal motion to authorize an additional letter and that the chair would be empowered to craft and sign it consistent with the discussion if the motion passed.
The council adopted motion 2026-0049 on a roll call vote (8 ayes, 0 nos; Councilmember Von Reichbauer excused) authorizing the chair to sign the two letters. The subsequent verbal motion authorizing Chair Perry and Executive Zaha'alai to send a third letter urging continuation of public defense funding and opposing repeal of the sales tax on services passed on a voice vote after brief discussion and a friendly amendment to broaden language about how public defense funding might be achieved.
Councilmembers who spoke emphasized the scale of potential budget impacts on Metro and other county services if sales-tax changes proceed and urged coordination with the executive and neighboring counties on a unified message to Olympia. The chair will work with the executive to finalize and send the authorized letters.