With what is now projected to be a $90 million shortfall in the County general fund for 2009, the Metropolitan King County Council has declared public safety, health and quality of life as its first priorities for funding in the County budget. The public will have a chance to speak to its priorities at one of six public hearings that have now been scheduled through the county.

The public hearings will be led by Councilmember Larry Phillips, chair of the 2009 Budget Review and Adoption Committee. The six hearings are set in different regions of King County to allow all residents to share their testimony:

• Tuesday, October 14 – Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, 24635 Southeast Issaquah Fall City Road, Issaquah

• Thursday, October 16 – Maleng Regional Justice Center, Courtroom 3F, 401 4th Avenue North, Kent

• Tuesday, October 21 – Finn Hill Junior High School, 8040 Northeast 132nd Street, Kirkland

• Thursday, October 23 – Shoreline Conference Center, Shoreline Room, 18560 1st Avenue Northeast, Shoreline

• Tuesday, October 28 – King County Council Chambers, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle

• Monday, November 10 – King County Council Chambers, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle, starting at 1:30 p.m.

All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. Day-after coverage of the public hearings will be available both online and on King County Television, seen on Comcast and Broadstripe Cable Channel 22.

In addition, the County Executive will send his proposed 2009 budget to the Council on Monday, Oct. 13. The priorities developed by members of the Council’s budget leadership team identify some preliminary areas for finding budget efficiencies, in advance of the transmittal of the Executive Proposed Budget. Some of these priorities include public safety, health and quality of life.

For more information visit the King County Council’s Budget Web site at www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget.aspx