King County Council passes $20 billion budget proposal

King County Council to vote on 2-year budget proposal

The King County Council has been deliberating its $20 billion budget proposal for 2026 to 2027, with many giving public comment during the packed meeting.

KING COUNTY, Wash. - The King County Council unanimously passed its $20.16 billion budget for the next two years during Tuesday's meeting.

According to King County, the money will go towards investments in transit, law and justice, county operations, communities, county parks and trails, as well as roads in unincorporated areas.

"With passage of the County’s 2026-2027 biennial budget, I’m thankful for the meaningful progress we’ve delivered for the people of King County," said King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, who chaired the budget committee. "The Council worked to protect essential public safety investments, strengthen our commitment to combating hunger, and increase accountability for how public money is spent. I’m grateful to Executive Braddock for her leadership and to my Council colleagues for their thoughtful collaboration."

What they're saying:

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda proposed an amendment to the budget to work with the city of Seattle and create a local contingency fund for looming federal cuts to permanent housing assistance.

"Currently what we see from the federal government just this last week is a cut to the very fabric of our safety net housing and health services being decimated by the continuum of care conditionalities tied to federal dollars that we used to be able to rely on regularly," Mosqueda said.

She went on to say with the amendment, King County will be stepping up in partnership with the city of Seattle and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to help weather that storm, and she says this budget helps set up the region with a more stable future.

In terms of how that money gets used, she said it’s an impossible choice when it comes to our growing population and growing population needs. However, she added, this budget allows them to invest in creating additional housing, food security, jobs and childcare.

Ultimately, the amendment passed, along with a number of others for the 2026-2027 budget.

Local perspective:

Tuesday's meeting was so packed that some people had to stand, with many sharing their thoughts during public comment.

Dozens of people spoke on behalf of Harbor Island Studios, a county-funded studio at risk of being cut under the original budget proposal. However, under an amendment, the council can temporarily keep the studio open using the general fund.

Councilmember Claudia Balducci issued a statement following the passage of the amendment to save Harbor Island Studios from closure:

"Since the end of the pandemic, Harbor Island Studios has been a hub for creativity, supporting local film and media production in King County. I’m grateful to my Council colleagues’ support to keep Harbor Island Studios open. To be clear, this is a stopgap measure, providing short-term funding to sustain operations and maintenance. We will need to work urgently to find a future, sustainable funding source to maintain this resource.

"This is about more than just a building—it’s about preserving opportunity, creativity, and the future of our local film industry. Today’s vote reflects a commitment to protecting spaces that nurture local talent and strengthen King County’s cultural identity, but the work to save Harbor Island Studios has just begun. I look forward to collaborating with our local film industry partners, funders, and others to find a path to create a sustainable funding model so that Harbor Island Studios can continue to grow and serve as a hub for our region’s creative economy."

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