Executive Constantine announces proposal to preserve the county’s public health clinics, further sustain Harborview Medical Center’s operations and maintenance
Summary: King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today a proposal that would preserve the county’s public health clinics and further sustain operations and maintenance at the county hospital Harborview Medical Center, HMC. The proposal utilizes a modified county hospital tax authority approved by the state Legislature earlier this year to raise revenue for these vital services in the 2025 budget.
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today a proposal to preserve and fund the county’s public health clinics and further maintain operations and maintenance for the county hospital, Harborview Medical Center. The proposal is part of Executive Constantine’s 2025 budget and, if approved by the King County Council, would utilize a modified county hospital property tax authority approved by the state Legislature earlier this year.
The proposal would levy an 8.5 cent tax that would raise $74.6 million for the 2025 budget, eliminating the need for public health clinic services to be covered by the county’s General Fund and increasing funding to maintain operations, maintenance, and capital projects at HMC.
“By modifying long-standing county tax authority, legislators helped save basic care for King County public health clinic patients while supporting the renovation, expansion, and operation of our outstanding county hospital, ensuring those who face barriers to healthcare will have the basic services they need. Protecting the health of every resident is central to our True North: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive,” said Executive Constantine. “While this proposal ensures that primary care, dental care, and prenatal care for our clinic patients will not suddenly end, the long-term erosion of the county general fund — now $450 million behind inflation and population growth — inevitably threatens core services.”
Funding Allocation
The 8.5 cent tax will cost an $850,000 median home about $72 a year. It will raise $25 million, about 3 cents, for Public Health — Seattle & King County to sustain clinic operations in 2025 and provide essential health services to the most vulnerable. It will also raise $25 million for operations supporting those most in need at HMC. Roughly 2 cents of the tax total will raise $19 million for major infrastructure improvement projects at HMC in 2025. The remaining amount covers administrative costs to implement operations and contributes to the fund’s rainy-day reserve.
The tax revenue supports immediate needs for the clinics and HMC, and in the long run, it will allow King County to utilize the full county hospital taxing authority — up to 20 cents — for these purposes and the extensive renovation and expansion of HMC. This will require capital improvement plans related to implementing the voter-approved Harborview bond program and other capital and maintenance needs and will inform the 2026–2027 budget.
Public Health Clinic Operations
King County’s Public Health clinics provide essential care to nearly 80,000 people who often experience barriers in accessing and navigating the health care system, a vast majority of whom are Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color. In addition to funding that will preserve the vital support services provided by the facilities, the proposal includes a proposed ordinance calling for recommendations to modernize the clinics.
“I am very pleased with the plan announced by Executive Constantine today, which will stabilize and preserve Public Health’s clinical services,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health — Seattle & King County. “Public Health serves our community’s most disenfranchised, including individuals and families who rely on us to provide essential health services with minimal barriers to care.”
The full proposal will be included in Executive Constantine’s 2025 budget which will be sent to the County Council on Sept. 23 for consideration and approval.
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