Summary

On Wednesday Nov. 25, most King County staff will be on unpaid leave and most county buildings will be closed as the county takes the ninth of ten furlough days in 2009 to cut operational costs countywide. All department employees, with limited exceptions, such as those in public-safety functions, are included in the furlough plan.

County offices will also be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Story

On Wednesday Nov. 25, most King County staff will be on unpaid leave and most county buildings will be closed as the county takes the ninth of ten furlough days in 2009 to cut operational costs countywide. All department employees, with limited exceptions, such as those in public-safety functions, are included in the furlough plan.

County offices will also be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

On furlough days, most King County buildings and services will be closed except the following, which will be open and operating:

• Metro bus service will operate a normal schedule
• Youth Service Center
• King County Courthouse
• King County Regional Communications and Emergency Service Center (911)
• Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center
• District Courts will be open in all locations
• 2nd floor of the North District Multi-Service Center
• Health Point portion of the Federal Way Public Health Facility
• 1st floor of Yesler Building (half day)
• Goat Hill Garage will have normal operations.
• Office of the Public Defender (OPD) offices are open at the Maleng Regional Justice Center; Juvenile Court, 1211 E. Alder St., Third Floor, Seattle; and the Walthew Building, 123 Third Ave., Fourth Floor, Seattle for eligibility screening and assignment of counsel for Superior Court and Juvenile Court cases. Other Office of Public Defender offices are closed.
• Rainier Park Clinic (NeighborCare Health) co-located at the Columbia Public Health Center will also be open.

If a building or office is not on the list above, it will be closed.

Signs about the closure will be posted in advance in public buildings, including signage in multiple languages. Information will also be posted on the county's Web site. Unless otherwise specified, furloughed employees will not be responding to e-mail or voice mail on furlough days.

The selected furlough days are next to existing holidays or weekends and were strategically chosen to limit impacts on residents who depend on King County services. The chosen days tend to have the fewest phone calls and requests for service.

Remaining 2009 King County furlough days are:

Wednesday, Nov. 25
Thursday, Dec. 24

On Thursday Nov. 26, Metro Transit will observe Thanksgiving and operate Sunday schedules. If a route does not normally run on Sunday, there will be no service.

On Friday Nov. 27, Metro will run a reduced weekday schedule.

On Wednesday Nov. 25, furlough day: Metro will run regular weekday bus and Access Transportation services; however most Metro offices will be closed. Details on other transit and commuter services such as the Water Taxi are available here.

King County's Boeing Field Terminal Building and regular aviation operations will be open.

The county's Department of Judicial Administration and Superior Court will be open as usual. District Court will run with limited staffing and there will be no probation services.

King County Sheriff's Deputies and King County Medic One will respond to emergency calls through the 911 system as normal.

King County Solid Waste disposal and recycling facilities will be open, but administrative offices will be closed.

King County Crisis and Commitment Services will be available as usual around the clock as needed during the furlough.

King County Animal Care and Control will be closed to the public on furlough days, but staff and volunteers will be on hand to care for the animals. The shelters will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, but will be open normal weekend hours.

For futher information, see our complete list of county facilities and their furlough-related open or closed status.