I wanted to take a moment to respond directly to the ad placed by the King County Jail Guards Union that appears in the Nov. 12 Times/News.

This ad asks readers to contact my office and urge the Council's Budget Committee to keep the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent open for inmate bookings, a service that was cut in the Executive's proposed budget for 2011. The elimination of booking services at the MRJC would save the County $2 million in a year where we are facing a $60 million budget shortfall in our general fund.

As Budget Chair and as a Councilmember representing South King County, this issue is important to me and it is one that I have been following closely. The Council has been in budget deliberations since September 27 and, to date, I have not received any phone calls, emails or letters from cities in the greater Highline area expressing their concern over the proposal to close the MRJC to bookings.

The Council's budget committee is currently in the process of reviewing the Executive's proposed budget and no final decisions have been made about this proposal. During this year's budget process it's important to me that these decisions are made in the most fiscally responsible manner, while also protecting the safety of our residents. As always, I appreciate your input.

Julia Patterson
King County Councilmember, District 5