King County may cut Animal Control, close some parks

Some King County parks could be shut down and King County Animal Care and Control could be eliminated under proposed budget cuts announced Thursday by County Executive Kurt Triplett.

In working to close a $50 million budget deficit for 2010, Triplett outlined $16.5 million in cuts he will submit to the Metropolitan King County Council on Sept. 27.

In addition, he said he is cutting the executive, budget and strategic-planning offices by 10 percent and challenged the Metropolitan King County Council to match that, for a further savings of $2 million.

He said the cuts were mandated, in part, by the failure of the state Legislature to give King County budget flexibility, such as any new tax sources for the general fund. The county lobbied for a utility tax for unincorporated areas to pay for local services there.

Triplett said he will eliminate all discretionary services, and that could include huge cuts in parks and animal control. He hopes to protect the prosecutor's office and other parts of the Public Safety Department from any major cuts, looking at 2 percent cuts in Public Safety compared with 8 to 10 percent countywide.

To ensure public safety, funding for the Sheriff's Office will continue to be a priority.

A cap on property taxes that is less than the rate of inflation, state limits on revenue sources, and the way county tax dollars are spent mean an estimated $60 million will have to be cut in 2011, on top of the $50 million in 2010.

Counties do not have the same taxing authority as cities. According to a 2007 report commissioned by the state, Washington laws have created a structural deficit for all counties in Washington that can be solved only with changes in state law.

The parks cuts would include closing about 40 parks, all in unincorporated King County and all in potential annexation areas for cities.

"When I was appointed King County executive, I pledged a more transparent and open budget process," said Triplett. "I will share early and often.

"The cuts won't be easy for the council, but tough choices can be achieved."

Triplett said the cuts will be real, deep and likely permanent, although he couldn't say how many jobs might be lost under his budget plan.

He said he will look at cuts in all services not required by the state, and may cut all parks funds not covered by the King County parks levy. This may mean the county will try to persuade local cities to take over county parks in annexation areas, and try to enlist a nonprofit agency, such as the Humane Society, to take over animal control.

But Brenda Barnette, with the Seattle Humane Society, said her organization would like to help, but doesn't have the resources to take over King County animal control.

When Ron Sims was executive, he asked the Humane Society to work up a proposal on the costs for taking over animal control, and the organization came up with a figure of about $5 million, she said.

"We felt King County animal control was grossly understaffed. There was no interest (from King County) in this and we moved on. We're not thinking of taking on that responsibility.

"If (Triplett) wants to cut his budget down to zero, it would be insane to volunteer to take it over. We don't have that surplus money," she said.

She said without animal control there would be no one to pick up stray dogs or vicious dogs, and each city in the county would have to have its own program.

Claire Davis, an attorney and co-chairwoman of KCAA Exposed, a grass-roots group formed last year to demand changes in King County animal control, said she was shocked by Triplett's proposal.

"Cutting the budget down to zero has never seriously been considered by anyone. It's irresponsible and insane," she said.

Davis said it would be illegal for the county to stop animal control in unincorporated King County.

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Julia Patterson agreed.

"There's a state mandate that we provide animal-control services," she said, but added that she doesn't necessarily think it's a bad idea for King County to get out of the animal-control business.

"This gives us an opportunity to explore if other entities could do a better job," Patterson said, adding that maybe it should be considered as a regional service, with all cities in the county contracting with an agency, such as the Humane Society, for animal control.

"You can't leave unincorporated King County in the lurch with services for dangerous dogs or dogs running loose," she said. "But I don't think it's such a bad suggestion. We can rethink how to provide the service in a much more humane and progressive way. He's (Triplett has) thrown the first shot out there, and this is how we evolve. It makes us think outside the box, and that's a good thing."

With the proposed cuts announced Thursday, Triplett said he is one-third of the way to the needed $50 million in budget cuts. He said he will be talking to county labor unions to try to cut costs, and that could mean unpaid furloughs next year.

Triplett had asked the County Council to raise the sales tax by one-tenth of a percent, but members roundly rejected that idea last month. Triplett said he won't propose another budget-balancing tax increase. "Those times are over," he said.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com