Summary

On Monday, October 12, 2009, most King County staff will be on unpaid leave and most county buildings will be closed as the county takes the eighth of 10 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.

Story

On Monday, October 12, 2009, most King County staff will be on unpaid leave and most county buildings will be closed as the county takes the eighth of 10 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.

Most staff in the County Executive’s office and Budget office will also be on unpaid leave Friday, October 9 due to the office’s recently adopted, budget cut-related four-day work week.

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.

On October 12, all buildings managed by King County Facilities Management will be closed, except the following:

• King County Courthouse will be open on October 12. Employees may enter the building via the Garage tunnel, 3^rd Avenue or 4^th Avenue entrances. The public may enter through the 3^rd Avenue and 4^th Avenue entrances only. Security screening stations will be open at all access points. The loading dock will be closed.
• King County Correctional Facility will be open.
• King County Regional Communications and Emergency Service Center (911) will be open.
• Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center will be open with security screening at all access points.
• Youth Services Center will be open with security screening at all access points.
• District Courts will be open (6 locations: Aukeen, Bellevue, Burien, Redmond, Issaquah, and Shoreline).
• Goat Hill Garage will have normal operations.
• Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will be open.
• Office of the Public Defender (OPD) offices are open at the Maleng Regional Justice Center; Juvenile Court, 1211 E. Alder Street, Third Floor, Seattle; and the Walthew Building, 123 Third Avenue, 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.
• King County Council: Some Council staff who have taken alternate furlough days will be at work. If you have an appointment, please use the phone and directory by the Council entrance on the 12th floor of the Courthouse to call your contact.

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.

A complete list of county facilities and their furlough-related open or closed status is available online: https://www.kingcounty.gov/property/BuildingServices/CurrentBuildingStatus.aspx

Other county services on the October 12 furlough day

• Metro will run regular weekday bus and Access Transportation services. The Metro Customer Information Office and phone line (206-553-3000) will be closed. Riders should use the online Trip Planner instead. 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.

Remaining 2009 King County Furlough Days are:

Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009
Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009

King County’s separately-elected officials, including the Sheriff, Prosecutor and the Superior and District Court, have determined their own furlough schedules. The council’s schedule is available here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2009/March/furlough.aspx