For years Seattle has been the seat of the King County. That's why the courthouse, county clerk, and the councilmember's offices are all in Seattle. But with the cost of real estate rising in the city King County is looking into the possibility to move out of Seattle.
The idea was brought up in mid-July at a King County Government Accountability committee meeting about the future of the King County courthouse.
This year, the King County courthouse is 100 years old and badly in need of costly repairs. Initial estimates for a complete renovation are $300 million.
The committee assembled a panel of Seattle's top real estate developers to discuss the issue. Greg Smith, CEO of Urban Visions posed this question.
"Does it have to be here," said Smith. "Is that where the county should have their offices."
Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer said the suggestion got him thinking.
"I never thought about moving the courthouse out of the city," said Reichbauer.
The thought behind is that right now, King County's buildings currently sits on some of the most expensive real estate in King County in the heart of Seattle.
"This region has changed, and we need to change with it," said Reichbauer.
Councilmember von Reichbauer isn't advocating for moving the county seat. He suggests consolidating several King County buildings into one. Still, Councilmember von Reichbauer sent an inquiry to King County's legal counsel looking for information about how King County would change its county seat from Seattle.
The answer was lengthy but in short, it would take a lot to move King County out of Seattle. Below is the long answer from James Brewer, Chief Legal Counsel:
Per the state constitution (Article 1 1, Sec. 2) and its implementing statute (RCW ch.36.12), this can only happen as follows:
1. A petition is submitted to the county legislative authority praying for the removal of the county seat to one or more specified towns or cities in the county and calling for an election on the question to be held at the next general election of county officers. The petition must be signed by qualified votèrs of the county equal in number to at least one-third of all the votes cast in the county at the last preceding general election.
2. The petition must be filed at least six months before the election.
3. If the petition signatures are sufficient, the county legislative authority must place the measure on the ballot.
4. The county legislative authority must issue a statement analyzing the financial impact of the proposed removal at least sixty days before the election.
5. For the measure to pass, at least 3/5th' of the qualified electors of the county must vote for the proposition. Also, 3/5th' of those voting must vote for relocation to a specific city or town.
6. If the measure fails, the existing county seat remains the county seat and no second election may be held within eight years after that.
