In a speech before the King County Council today County Executive Dow Constantine marked his first 100 days in office by outlining a Countywide Strategic Plan.
The primary goals outlined in the speech are for streamlining county government and increasing efficiency, even as tax revenue declines.

His plan begins with his signature of a series of executive orders including:
*Simplifying the procurement process by reducing paperwork
*Mandating shorter inquests and a tighter focus into officer involved shootings
*Establishing a "single point of accountability" to improve customer service for those dealing with the county

As part of the third order he said that people could expect answers to questions within 24 hours. Constantine said, "When we tell you we're going to call you back, we'll do it."

Constantine is proposing to establish a Cabinet-level position of Director of Labor Relations who would report directly to him and the Deputy Executive.
Constantine said "Rather than negotiate in public, we will meet with labor at the bargaining table to discuss our shared interests in an efficient and sustainable government."

He called for investment in 'a 21st century transportation infrastructure" that includes land use planning.
In reference to improved customer service the speech included his previous mention of an "employee suggestion box" and noted these three:
"From Judge Vicki Seitz: 'Make sure we collect on all bail bonds forfeited by defendants, before they expire.'
From Doug Miller at Metro: 'Invite companies to install solar panels over our big bus bases, and share some of the electricity they generate.'
And I received this: 'Find efficiencies in the way inquests are being performed'. "

As the Executive first mentioned in a speech before the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce in January he opened a competition for suggestions for him to "walk in their shoes" from county employees, receiving more than 70 ideas. A process he wants to repeat once a quarter.

He praised the efficiencies in found in a Productivity Initiative in wastewater processing noting that soon three regional wastewater plants will be running with the same number of employees it took to run two plants ten years ago.

Constantine's call for improved "financial stewardship" includes an executive order he is signing next week that "sets consistent, comprehensive standards for budgeting, managing, and measuring the performance of our capital projects. Under this order, managers must set a baseline before moving into detailed design and construction. They must monitor and report performance against that baseline. This reform will create the tools to provide timely warning to the Council when projects are going off-course, and take action to get them back on track."

Dwight Dively, new King County Budget Director was also introduced. His first day on the job was today. Dively was the longtime Seattle finance director. As Director of Finance for the City of Seattle, Dively led Seattle’s financial and budget management initiatives since 1994.

Constantine intends to convene a cabinet of "the offices and agencies that are supported by the general fund," in early April, whose purpose is to manage the general fund by breaking it down into "manageable pieces" by "driving down the annual growth in the cost of doing business to the level of background inflation."

Constantine proposed a spending cap and when conditions improve, any excess revenue would be placed into a "deficit reserve" fund that would not be part of the existing rainy day fund. He believes this will cushion the effects of future shortfalls.

In the speech he also touched on creating a Regional Transit Task Force, on working with cities in the county for jail planning, on creating a new, humane regional model for animal services, and on improving service delivery to rural areas of the county.

The Executive also spoke about reforms in the County's permitting and fee structure and said he has appointed a new director of Development and Environmental Services. He made a commitment to having a strategy in place by April 15th for revising the fee structure for permits possibly changing the current model based on hourly rates.