Public Health — Seattle & King County faces cuts amid budget shortfall

The director of Public Health — Seattle & King County says his office is going to have to make significant budget cuts by the year 2025, specifically $25 million annually.

"I greatly wish I had better news to share. But I need to be direct about the difficult situation we face and our next steps in addressing it," wrote director Dr. Faisal Khan in a letter to staff.

The funds will be taken from the Public Health Fund because of a projected shortfall in the King County General Fund. The county is blaming the projected deficit on state imposed-limits on property tax revenue growth.

Khan said his office will work with the county executive over the next three months to see how to "do the least harm to the community" in light of the cuts.

Khan noted that the General Fund supports three primary Public Health services: $50 million annually for Jail Health Services; $7 million annually for the Medical Examiner's Office; and $31 million annually for the Public Health Fund.

"Jail Health Services has been given a target of $1.5 million to cut," Khan wrote. "Not all departments are being asked to cut the same amount because of legal requirements to preserve some county services that are supported by General Fund. Most Public Health services, while highly valued, are not legally mandated by the state."

He also said he doesn't yet know which programs will be affected and how many workers will be laid off, but the cuts could start going into effect as soon as the middle of next year.

More information will likely come in the fall when King County Executive Dow Constantine announces his spending reduction plan, according to Khan.