Sep 20 2011

Kent residents will get a chance to tell the Metropolitan King County Council budget committee what they think county priorities should be in the 2012 budget.

The budget committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Courtroom 3F of the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Ave. N.

“King County Council must adopt a balanced budget for 2012 that protects the public and preserves the most critical functions of county government,” said Councilwoman Julia Patterson, of SeaTac, chairwoman of the budget committee, in a Sept. 19 county media release to announce the meetings . “These public hearings are an opportunity for the residents of King County to make their voices heard on the issues that matter most to them.”

Other hearings are set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Pacific Cascade Middle School, 24635 SE Issaquah Fall City Road in Issaquah; and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25

at the King County Courthouse, County Council Chambers, 10th floor, 516 Third Ave., in downtown Seattle.

Council members Kathy Lambert, Jane Hague and Joe McDermott, members of the budget leadership team, will join Patterson at the meetings.

King County Executive Dow Constantine will release his 2012 proposed budget on Sept. 26.