SEATTLE – King County and Seattle leaders voted Friday to establish a new finance committee to provide emergency oversight of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) following a disastrous forensic audit.
The decision came during a high-stakes board meeting where local officials reviewed findings of a $13 million financial gap at the agency. The newly formed committee is tasked with making direct financial recommendations to the governing board and the CEO to prevent further fiscal instability.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, who supported the move, also called for the immediate hiring of a Chief Financial Officer—a position that has remained vacant since a round of layoffs late last year.
Audit reveals “crumbling foundation”
The meeting was centered on a forensic investigation by Clark Nuber P.S., which examined the agency’s books from 2021 through July 2025. The report detailed a “crumbling foundation” where $8 million in funds are currently unmatched and $4.26 million was overspent.
KCRHA CEO Kelly Kinnison, who took over in 2024, told the board that the audit she requested was a necessary step toward transparency. She stressed that while the accounting was “messy,” the investigation did not find evidence of fraud.…