Susan's Top Priorities for King County

Budget Reform

King County government has engaged in a practice of reckless spending and unsustainable budgets. Consequently, King County residents are now paying the price in the form of less public safety, the closing of neighborhood parks, and fewer services. I have budget priorities for us to follow that are different from my opponent and my predecessor.

Susan's Budget Priorities

Read Budget Press Release Here

Howard Hanson Dam

We are facing an economic and environmental disaster that could result in billions of dollars in losses. This is not a pastoral region where flooding means cows can’t graze for a few weeks. This flooding could shut down the second largest warehouse and distribution center on the West Coast. It includes the Boeing Commercial Airplanes headquarters as well as thousands of other small businesses, industrial companies, rail lines and fuel depots. The pollutants and toxic chemicals that enter the flood waters from these sources will eventually end up in Puget Sound via the Duwamish River.

Susan's October 5th Statement on Green River Flood Prevention - 'Call Up the Marines!'

Susan's September 14th Statement on Green River Flood Prevention

Jobs & Economic Recovery

In its current form, the B and O tax functions as a major obstacle to small business startup – a barrier to successful growth. Rather than taxing profits – the B&O tax is levied on all revenues, before expenses. New businesses, with greater expenses resulting from startup costs, have a tax that impedes their success which results in one of the highest business failure rates in the nation.

I will work with Olympia – first to provide start-up exemptions for all new businesses and second, to increase the threshold under which the B&O tax applies – the current threshold of $28,000 in gross receipts to $250,000. This simple change will benefit 50 thousand small businesses in King County alone. Huge relief for small business, but little impact to state revenues.

Susan's Speech Regarding Job Creation and Economic Recovery in King County

Government Accountability & Reform

As County Executive:

    * I will require of each of my departments report back in three-month intervals to the auditor and the council on how her recommendations were implemented or improved upon.
    * I will work with the State Auditor to create protocols that ALL departments must follow to ensure they are capable of complying with audit investigations in a cooperative and transparent manner.
    * And I will work to expand our County Auditor’s performance audit resources and authority, to help guarantee that tax dollars are spent prudently and effectively.

There is a reason our State Auditor, Brian Sonntag, a Democrat, has endorsed my candidacy. He sees firsthand the disarray of King County Government and recognizes the need for new leadership – new fresh direction. He is joined by so many others in our community that see the need for change.

Statement Regarding Goverment Reform

"If elected, Hutchison said, she would make sure the county cooperates with state audits and would give the county auditor more money for performance audits. She reiterated her intention to deal with operating budget shortfalls by renegotiating employee labor accords and slimming the 30-employee executive's office."

Courtesy of the Seattle Times

Link to Full Seattle Times Article

Public Safety

Today, I want to announce along with Sheriff Sue Rahr a series of initiatives that will save King County money, and use law enforcement resources more efficiently. These changes will to be implemented in the next budget year starting 2010, upon my election as the new King County Executive and approval by the King County Council. This announcement also commences a new spirit of cooperation between the Executive and the Sheriff, two important elected officials who pledge to work together during this difficult budget crisis so that the citizens of King County are better served.

Susan's Public Safety Plan with King County Sheriff Sue Rahr

Critical Areas Ordinance

As executive, I will ensure DDES articulates clear standards for development in the unincorporated areas while shrinking permitting timelines from years to months, and even weeks. While many large developers have the money, the time, and the access to get their projects through the county's process, we MUST provide the same level of priority and respect to individual homeowners.