In a unanimous vote earlier this week, the King County Council passed its 2017-2018 biennial budget, including interesting plans for District 6, which encompasses most of Bellevue.
The council budget included a $2 million grant opportunity “to promote youth and family sports” in the hope of a new aquatic and athletic center serving Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond.
Claudia Balducci, freshman King County councilmember, said she was glad to have seen to some of the Eastside’s needs and wants.
“I am proud of all we were able to accomplish for the people of King County and the Eastside in this budget,” she said. “Over the past several weeks my colleagues and I have worked hard to provide our core public safety and transportation services, while addressing the pressing needs in our community and responding to strong feedback from the public. This budget will provide better access to transit, help our neighbors in need, support active and healthy living, and also save lives.”
Another grant in the county budget was $200,000 set aside for District 6 to “support programs that help young people and older adults get and stay active over the next two years.”
The total $11.4 billion budget included plans for Seattle and regional solutions to homelessness.
“My top priority in this budget was to increase shelter and affordable housing to make a serious dent in our region’s homelessness crisis,” said Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski, a member of the Council’s Budget Leadership Team. “With $7 million of historic new investments to meaningfully tackle homelessness and serve our most vulnerable neighbors, we are delivering on that goal.”
The other Council Vice Chair, Reagan Dunn, announced that the budget called for funds in Bellevue and Newcastle for parks and trails.
The 2017-2018 budget also sets aside $45,000 to go to the City of Newcastle for the Lake Boren dock restoration project and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. $5,000 in the budget will also go towards supporting youth sports programming at the Coal Creek Family YMCA.
“Once again, the King County Council is supporting needed infrastructure updates within our City,” said Newcastle Mayor Rich Cripso in a press release. “The residents of Newcastle greatly appreciate the helping hand that has been so graciously offered.”
Bellevue will receive $100,000 for the Coal Creek Park trailhead project. Additionally $10,000 will go towards youth sports programs in the South Bellevue Community Center and Bellevue’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“I’d like to thank the King County Council and Councilmember Reagan Dunn for investing in a healthy community in Bellevue,” said Bellevue Mayor John Stokes in the same release. “This funding will support active, engaged people through trail system improvements and recreation opportunities for youth and older adults.”
Additionally, $100,000 has been set aside for user improvements along the Eastside Rail Corridor through Woodinville, Bellevue, Newcastle and Renton.
