On Tuesday, The King County Council approved a $20 billion biennial budget for 2026 to 2027 that aims to confront racial injustice and deliver targeted resources to historically marginalized communities. For Councilmember De’Sean Quinn, who represents District 5 in South King County, the budget is more than a spending plan. It is a roadmap for repair.
Quinn, who was appointed in January to fill a vacancy left by former Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, praised the budget’s direct investments in the Black community and described the final package as a meaningful step toward equity and justice.
“The budget is an explicit statement about our values, and shows how much we value the people in this county not just for their future but also to undo the harms of the past,” said Quinn. “Our Black communities have suffered at the hands of oppressive legislation and culture for most of this nation’s history, and this budget brings significant funding to programs aimed at stemming the ongoing impacts of that oppression.”
Among the investments designed specifically to support Black residents are funding for small businesses, eviction prevention, youth programs, and a groundbreaking state study on reparative action for descendants of enslaved people. Quinn emphasized that these allocations are not symbolic but designed to create long-term stability and opportunity in communities that have been underfunded for generations.
Key highlights of the budget for Black communities include:
• $250,000 for Tabor 100 to support Black-owned small businesses, particularly in District 5 cities like Kent, Renton, and Tukwila
• $123,888 to the Urban League for eviction prevention, transitional housing, and flexible individual support services
• $300,000 to fund the Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush Study on Reparative Action, focused on Washington State descendants of U.S. chattel slavery
The Urban League funding supports three programs that address urgent needs in housing and youth development: Homebase, which helps prevent evictions; Harder House, offering support to young men aging out of foster care; and Streets to Home, which provides temporary housing, employment assistance, and resources such as security deposits and transit passes.
Quinn also noted the importance of civic and cultural investment. The budget includes $10,000 for the Kent Black Action Commission to boost civic involvement among African American residents in Kent, and $50,000 to establish a historical grant or fellowship honoring the legacy of Dr. Quintard Taylor in collaboration with BlackPast.org.
“This was a tremendous amount of work, but its importance to our community made it a joy to be of service,” said Quinn. “I couldn’t be happier to end my time on Council with this legislation, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to serve District 5 and all of King County.”
Beyond the targeted investments, the budget delivers resources that will benefit Black communities by improving countywide systems of care and support. These include expansions in food security, health care access, housing, and youth services.
The budget allocates:
• $250,000 to replace aging food bank equipment and improve operations for families experiencing food insecurity
• $650,000 to support tiny home villages and other transitional housing solutions
• $300,000 to help seniors stay in their homes through expanded repair assistance programs
• $750,000 to complete phase one of the HealthPoint Tukwila Commons clinic, offering culturally appropriate medical and behavioral health care
• $25,000 for the Pediatric Interim Care Center, which supports families caring for infants exposed to substance use
Quinn pointed to the HealthPoint clinic in Tukwila as a critical facility for District 5, where many families rely on accessible, inclusive health services. The clinic is designed to offer not only medical and dental care but also behavioral and naturopathic services in a setting that reflects the cultural diversity of the surrounding community.
Other investments promote equity in education and transportation. The budget restores Kent’s Outdoor Education program and funds a Highline College initiative supporting students experiencing homelessness. It also commits funding for Metro transit safety, security reviews, and expanded service coordination across jurisdictions.
“This budget is something for King County to be proud of because it represents our values so well,” said Quinn. “With it, we are planning for the future by investing in hope, caring for the present by providing for our most vulnerable populations, and correcting the mistakes of the past.”
Quinn, who will be concluding his term on the Council, said the budget is the most significant legislation he has worked on during his time in office.
“This was a tremendous amount of work, but its importance to our community made it a joy to be of service,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier to end my time on Council with this legislation, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to serve District 5 and all of King County.”
