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Tri‑City leaders press county on deputies, and cities weigh House Bill 2015 sales tax path
Summary
Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond asked the county how it will reduce sheriff vacancies that affect contract cities and discussed implementing House Bill 2015 (a public safety sales tax). County and city staff described incentives, recruiting, CJTC grant applications and timing for local ordinances; Black Diamond reported earlier applications were denied and resubmitted.
Covington and neighboring Maple Valley and Black Diamond used the Tri‑City meeting to press King County officials on law‑enforcement staffing and to update each other on local plans to pursue a public‑safety sales tax authorized by state law.
Covington’s question: "For over five years, the contract cities have been required to hold vacancies in our police departments. What is King County's plan to accelerate hiring for the King County Sheriff's Office and reduce the backlog of unfilled positions in contract cities?" Mayor Sean Smith asked. King County Executive Girmay Zahalai said the county has "incentive programs," lateral recruiting, specialty assignments and a ramped‑up recruiting and marketing push to make service more appealing and reduce vacancies.
House Bill 2015: city managers reported varying implementation experiences. Covington said it will present an ordinance in March with an effective date of July 1 and is working with the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) on the contract‑city application process. Maple Valley said it applied for a grant for a new storefront detective in January 2026 and is watching the CJTC process for contract cities. Black Diamond—already pursuing the tax as a non‑contract city—said it submitted one of the first 11 applications but those initial applications were denied and a resubmission is pending.
Why it matters: contract cities rely on sheriff staffing to carry out functions such as unlawful detainer responses and other deputy‑dependent services. Unfilled positions shift operational burdens to small local governments. The HB2015 sales tax can provide funds for public safety but requires CJTC approval and local ordinance steps. City managers urged close coordination with county and CJTC and noted uncertainty in timelines for contract‑city access to grant funding.
No formal vote or ordinance adoption occurred at the meeting. City managers agreed to continue coordinating on CJTC application steps and to provide sample ordinances and timelines to council members.
