By Julia Patterson, Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague and Joe McDermott

The King County Council has worked very hard over the last four years to keep the county’s financial health from deteriorating during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. This year, even though revenues are starting to improve, they are not growing at rates that will sustain us.

But a crisis can also be an opportunity. In the last four years, we have cut $233 million of our General Fund budget, which for 2011 is $618 million. These cuts have created an opportunity for the county to think beyond lost revenues, and concentrate on what could be done with the resources available. For example:

— Our continued success in the implementation of prevention programs and therapeutic alternatives to incarceration — such as our nationally recognized Drug and Mental Health Court programs.

— Savings from the Healthy Incentive program supported by the council will reduce the county’s health care budget by $61 million in the next two years.

— Public/private partnerships, like the one we have with HealthPoint – a partnership that helps keep the doors of many of our public health clinics open.

— Streamlined electronic court records in Superior Court, which reduces costs and makes records more easily accessible to the public and law enforcement online.

— The county’s new regional animal services program spreads the cost of animal control, sheltering and licensing. This model has a more sustainable income level, a record low euthanasia rate, a growing volunteer and foster program and it strengthens animal cruelty investigations.

— A new method for the delivery of annual property valuation notices will save $120,000 in annual postage costs and promote staff efficiencies.

Despite our efforts, major challenges remain.

Restructuring of our roads funding system is necessary. Without it, over time, there will be diminished regular maintenance and storm response and potential road closures in our unincorporated areas.

We also must prepare for a state budget shortfall of $1.4 billion, which will likely mean further cuts to critical county services, especially public health.

Over the next several weeks, the council will review all aspects of the budget. During that time we urge you to get involved: come to one of our three special night meetings on the budget, get updates on our budget web page (www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget), and watch the budget meetings on King County Television (KCTV).

We want you to be our partner in this budget and in the continuing reform of King County Government.

Julia Patterson, Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague and Joe McDermott are the Metropolitan King County Council’s 2012 budget leadership team.