Council votes 4-1 to adopt $202.7 million budget
Published on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 by Beckye RandallRead More Local News
The Snohomish County Council's 2010 budget, adopted at a November 23 meeting, makes strategic choices to preserve essential county services and to begin rebuilding depleted reserves, according to a spokesperson for Council Chair Mike Cooper.
The budget passed 4-1, with only John Koster, the lone Republican on the council, in opposition. Koster had pushed for cuts in property tax rates and further reductions to what he termed "nonessential" county services.
County Executive Aaron Reardon will sign or veto the spending plan this month.
The executive had submitted his own version of the county's general fund budget in mid-September, a $201 million blueprint that called for 15 unpaid furlough days for most county employees among other program reductions. The council's version of the budget comes in at $202.7 million and asks county employees for five unpaid days during the year.
The council also committed to reducing salaries for elected officials by 1.9 percent, equal to the five furlough days for most employees. Because a state salary commission determines the officials' compensation, the council conceded it has no direct control over the pay scale for elected offices, but will try to influence the decisions made for Snohomish County.
The council's plan includes a mandate to Reardon's office to negotiate five furlough days with all county labor organizations.
"It is irresponsible to try to balance the budget on the backs of hardworking county staff that provide the services that so many of our residents rely upon," said Councilmember Brian Sullivan. "We're all in this together and staff are doing their part, but we have to be more creative and find other options for providing services."
Among other programs on the cutting block, the council considered eliminating $1 million set aside for WSU extension agricultural and Master Gardener programs, some of which benefit local food banks. The final budget ended up funding the program at $300,000, about one-third its 2009 allowance.
Joyce Zeigen, director of the Marysville Community Food Bank, expressed concern about the cuts.
"This year the Master Gardeners provided nearly 7,000 pounds of produce for food bank clients," Zeigen said in an e-mail sent prior to the council's decision. "With county cuts, they would no longer be able to grow food for the hungry."
Steve Fulton, a Marysville Rotarian and food bank supporter, suggested that the program could continue to be successful by incorporating more volunteers, including food bank clients, in place of the paid professional gardeners. Marysville parks director Jim Ballew pledged the city's continued support of the Master Gardener program, both in "communicating the continued importance of the program and continuing partnerships with those volunteers that wish to continue their service on site."
The council version of the 2010 budget further depletes the county's reserve fund, although by a smaller amount than that proposed by the county executive.
"We have to begin rebuilding our reserves to maintain our fiscal health," said Cooper, adding that the county's history of fiscal prudence "helped us weather this recession in much better shape than some of our neighboring counties."
Koster had pushed to lower property tax rates while Cooper and Sullivan sought to raise taxes by $2.1 million countywide. Neither was successful, although the council did include a new minimal fee of $5 per parcel plus five cents per acre to fund the Snohomish Conservation District.
"These were difficult decisions, but we had to keep the focus on providing services that are essential to the health and safety of Snohomish County residents," said Koster. "When the economy improves, we can review funding for these valuable programs, but for now we simply can't afford them," he added.
The council also recommended the restructuring of some county departments, moving Information Services from the executive's office and placing it under the auspices of the county auditor, and revamping planning services to account for increased annexations of county areas into local cities.
The budget passed 4-1, with only John Koster, the lone Republican on the council, in opposition. Koster had pushed for cuts in property tax rates and further reductions to what he termed "nonessential" county services.
County Executive Aaron Reardon will sign or veto the spending plan this month.
The executive had submitted his own version of the county's general fund budget in mid-September, a $201 million blueprint that called for 15 unpaid furlough days for most county employees among other program reductions. The council's version of the budget comes in at $202.7 million and asks county employees for five unpaid days during the year.
The council also committed to reducing salaries for elected officials by 1.9 percent, equal to the five furlough days for most employees. Because a state salary commission determines the officials' compensation, the council conceded it has no direct control over the pay scale for elected offices, but will try to influence the decisions made for Snohomish County.
The council's plan includes a mandate to Reardon's office to negotiate five furlough days with all county labor organizations.
"It is irresponsible to try to balance the budget on the backs of hardworking county staff that provide the services that so many of our residents rely upon," said Councilmember Brian Sullivan. "We're all in this together and staff are doing their part, but we have to be more creative and find other options for providing services."
Among other programs on the cutting block, the council considered eliminating $1 million set aside for WSU extension agricultural and Master Gardener programs, some of which benefit local food banks. The final budget ended up funding the program at $300,000, about one-third its 2009 allowance.
Joyce Zeigen, director of the Marysville Community Food Bank, expressed concern about the cuts.
"This year the Master Gardeners provided nearly 7,000 pounds of produce for food bank clients," Zeigen said in an e-mail sent prior to the council's decision. "With county cuts, they would no longer be able to grow food for the hungry."
Steve Fulton, a Marysville Rotarian and food bank supporter, suggested that the program could continue to be successful by incorporating more volunteers, including food bank clients, in place of the paid professional gardeners. Marysville parks director Jim Ballew pledged the city's continued support of the Master Gardener program, both in "communicating the continued importance of the program and continuing partnerships with those volunteers that wish to continue their service on site."
The council version of the 2010 budget further depletes the county's reserve fund, although by a smaller amount than that proposed by the county executive.
"We have to begin rebuilding our reserves to maintain our fiscal health," said Cooper, adding that the county's history of fiscal prudence "helped us weather this recession in much better shape than some of our neighboring counties."
Koster had pushed to lower property tax rates while Cooper and Sullivan sought to raise taxes by $2.1 million countywide. Neither was successful, although the council did include a new minimal fee of $5 per parcel plus five cents per acre to fund the Snohomish Conservation District.
"These were difficult decisions, but we had to keep the focus on providing services that are essential to the health and safety of Snohomish County residents," said Koster. "When the economy improves, we can review funding for these valuable programs, but for now we simply can't afford them," he added.
The council also recommended the restructuring of some county departments, moving Information Services from the executive's office and placing it under the auspices of the county auditor, and revamping planning services to account for increased annexations of county areas into local cities.
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