King County facing possible budget meltdown

Budget Director Bob Cowan is warning the County Council of a $20 million shortfall in the 2008 budget and a $60 million shortfall in 2009.

"We have to go back to the fundamentals of government, looking at every dollar and how it is spent and seeing what we can do to prioritize," said Kathy Lambert, vice chair of the Council Budget Committee.

Like a drunk swearing off of the juice after a nasty hangover, here it comes again: another promise from King County to return to fundamental government.

It isn't that I begrudge aid for the poor or sheriff's deputies on the beat, far from it. Government has a responsibility to create a stable society and that means order (within reason) and comprehensive help for those less fortunate.

What it is, is that no one, from the Federalies to Checkbook Charlie at the Elks Club steak dinner really wants to spend the time to do anything more than throw money at problems or to even define their role in the process of funding.

After several years of binge-funding, King County is again forced into detox by reality. Oh, wait. No it isn't. Its trying to find a way to sneak its bottle in under its coat.

The county executive and the budget chair say the big problem is that King County has only two sources of revenue, property taxes and sales. They will push the Legislature in 2009 to add to their revenue sources.