(The Center Square) – The King County Council unanimously approved its 2026-27 budget on Tuesday night, with increased taxes to offset federal funding cuts and to avoid a reduction in services.
The $20.16 billion spending plan comes in higher than County Executive Shannon Braddock’s $19.7 billion proposal, with council amendments adding new expenditures while avoiding service reductions. The 2025 budget totaled $10.2 billion.
The county faced a projected shortfall of $175 million in 2025 that threatened cuts to public safety and other services. A 0.1% sales tax increase authorized by the state this year and approved by the King County Council helped close much of the gap.
“Without collaboration from the state, the consequences would have been devastating for our community,” King County Councilmember De’Sean Quinn said during Tuesday’s county council meeting.
The budget also increased the property tax that funds Harborview Medical Center from 10 cents per $1,000 in assessed value to 15 cents. A median King County home totaling $844,364 will pay $127 toward the tax.
The budget warns of looming federal reductions to Medicaid, housing programs, and other human services funding. County officials say the cuts will immediately affect Public Health clinics and the behavioral health programs run by the King County Department of Community and Human Services.
“Those federal restrictions actually harm all of the programs that we are so proud to have put into place in King County, especially around housing and health services,” King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said. “I’m thankful that the budget stands up and fights against that.”
Looking ahead, the county projects a $70 million to $90 million reserve shortfall in the 2028-29 biennium, signaling additional budget pressure after 2027.
“We know that rising costs for government services and continued uncertainty at the federal level, particularly regarding homelessness funding and cuts to safety-net programs targeting our most vulnerable populations, will create financial challenges in the future,” Braddock said in a statement.
Braddock leaves office on Nov. 25 and will be succeeded by Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, who won the job in the general election earlier this month.
