Council Initiates County-wide Search for Building to Consolidate Elections Operations

On Monday, The Metropolitan King County Council embarked on a county-wide search for a building that could potentially consolidate the county’s two elections operations into one facility. By a 12 – 1 vote, the Council adopted a budget corrections ordinance with an amendment that deletes $350,000 in funding for an earnest money deposit and due diligence on a proposal to purchase the 1130 Rainier Building at a cost of $23 million. The ordinance instead appropriates $75,000 to complete elections programming, and to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) from property owners for a building to potentially consolidate King County Elections. “It is premature to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to examine only one building that will cost $23 million,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, prime sponsor of the budget amendment. “King County residents deserve a more thoughtful approach to how we want to consolidate our elections division. It’s time to slow down. A county-wide property search is the first step to get the information we need to help us decide whether a new building makes sense.” Consolidation of elections operations was recommended by the Council’s Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee and King County Independent Task Force on Elections. “It is not a question of whether we consolidate elections, but how,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “I’ve been skeptical of the $23 million price tag from the beginning. Rather than being hasty, we need to settle down and evaluate all our options to be sure we’re doing both what’s best for improving elections efficiency and protecting taxpayers’ pocketbooks.” Under the RFP, the County will solicit proposals from a wide range of building owners and managers for lease or purchase of an existing building, or one to be built, for consolidation. The building would have to house elections administration and operations currently housed at the King County Administration Building and the Mail Ballot Operations Satellite, with room for growth. The building should be close to freeways and transit facilities, should include a plan for enough parking during elections with big turnouts, and should “enhance and encourage an environment of cultural change within King County Elections.” The legislation postpones a decision on elections consolidation until the Council receives the recommendations from the three panels now studying King County elections: the Council’s Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee, the Council’s Independent Management Audit, and the King County Independent Task Force on Elections. The RFP is to be submitted by the County Executive for Council approval by October 15, 2005. “The Council needs to make a policy decision on whether we should consolidate elections in our new County Office Building downtown or purchase or lease a separate facility just for elections,” added Ferguson. “I’m skeptical that a new building is necessary, but a county-wide property search will give us better information on that option.”