The King County Council unanimously approved a two-year, $20 billion budget Tuesday that expands investments in housing, public safety, and behavioral health, while bracing for potential federal funding cuts.

The spending plan pays for core county operations, including Metro buses, sewage treatment, jails, courts, and drug-treatment programs. It also raises the countywide property-tax levy from 10 cents to 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. For a median $850,000 home, that means an annual increase from about $85 to $127.

Housing emerged as one of the central themes of the budget. Council members approved an amendment from Councilmember Claudia Balducci to fund the next phase of a countywide housing needs assessment. Another amendment, sponsored by Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, aim

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