With the innovation, King County will be one of the first local governments in the nation to open its meetings for live broadcast on the World Wide Web. Citizens can download a free copy of the RealPlayer 7 basic, also available on the site, to allow them instant access to their local government. Residents can now go to the council s website to sign up for an absentee ballot, marriage or animal license, research properties, or get the latest traffic information. The site will also feature e-testimony, which will allow citizens to enter official public testimony via the web on important topics such as the King County budget and county comprehensive growth management plan. The e-testimony feature was another first across the nation.
King County is way ahead of the digital curve when it comes to public access.
With this innovation, we have effectively taken the courthouse out of downtown Seattle and moved it into every neighborhood in the county. Hague and Councilmember David Irons , who chairs the council s new Utilities and Technology Committee, also hope to be able to add an option for residents to make e-payments on the site in the very near future. The councilmembers introduced a measure earlier this month that would allow the county to accept electronic payments for county fees and services. Some of the fees that could be paid for electronically include, court fines, transit passes, document copying and some services in public health clinics. That proposal is currently under review by the utilities committee.