King County elected officials have developed a proposed budget for 2011 in which planned General Fund spending would exceed estimated revenues by approximately $60 million. Total County budget spending is just over $5 billion a year; the General Fund budget is $629 million.

To make up for the planned shortfall, budget writers are relying on approval in November of a sales tax increase placed before voters, rather than seeking savings in low-priority areas of current spending.

To carry out the plan, County Executive Dow Constantine has proposed, and a majority of the Council has approved, a ballot measure to raise the county sales tax by two-tenths of a percent, bringing the total tax rate to 9.7%. The sales tax on restaurants would be higher, over 10%. The proposal will appear on the November ballot. If approved, the new tax would raise an estimated additional $59 million a year for County operations.

The County Executive says the new revenue would be devoted to public safety agencies, particularly the Sheriff’s office and the County Prosecutor’s office. If the measure is not approved, Executive Constantine says he intends to lay off sheriff deputies and cancel prosecution of certain criminal offenses. These changes would likely lead to reduced public safety, an increase in illegal activity, and more citizens becoming victims of crime in King County.

Read the full Policy Note here