Reimagining public value: our learning journey in King County, Washington

Foreword from King County Executive Dow Constantine

Over the last two and a half years, local governments and the communities we serve have faced a combination of challenges like never before – a global pandemic, homelessness, racism, gun violence, the climate crisis, and more. Our obligation as a local government is to do all that we can, as soon as we can, and as best as we can to better meet the needs of all our residents – particularly those who have been left behind for far too long – and the generations who will follow.

In meeting these challenges here in King County, Washington, our True North guides our work – that is, to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. To turn this vision into a reality, County staff and residents need to work more closely together than ever before. We must recognize that if we want to create different, more equitable outcomes, we must work in different, more equitable ways. It is human nature for this transformation, both in what we do and how we do it, to feel uncomfortable and risky. Yet, we can accomplish great things if we’re willing to take the right risks. We have what it takes to drive change and to create meaningful impact, especially for those facing poverty, racism, and other forms of discrimination.

This report begins to outline practical approaches we, and other local governments, can take to operationalize our core values in all our actions, large and small. I want to thank the dedicated public servants and residents in King County and elsewhere who stepped up to share their knowledge with us as partners and program participants. Your insights, energy, and time have been invaluable in shaping this report and our path forward. This report is not the beginning or the end, but another chapter in the long story of our community. It is a chapter that recognizes our systems are not always set up to benefit everyone and seeks to understand and change that. These changes will take time, but I believe they will help us to solve not just the challenges of the moment, but to fulfill our vision to build a community where everyone, every child, and generations of our children’s children can thrive.

Sincerely,

Dow Constantine

County Executive

King County, Washington

Project background

Why are we here?

Equity. Sustainability. Trust. These are some of the most common values articulated by governments across the country. These values are meant to guide the decision-making and actions of public servants, from the line staff to the executive level, as they collaborate with residents and grapple with the most pressing, complex problems of our day, such as widening inequality, homelessness, safety, and ecosystem collapse.