Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2008

No merit raises for Reardon's staff

And County Council Chairman Dave Somers says the partial wage freeze could be expanded to all 3,000 county employees to save money.

By Krista J. Kapralos
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- Employees who answer to Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon won't get merit raises this year.

Reardon announced the cost-saving measure Monday, just over a week before he is expected to submit a two-year budget to the County Council. County financial experts predict a $9 million shortfall in their $700 million budget by year's end.

County employees can still expect cost-of-living raises at the beginning of next year.

"While merit raises can be beneficial during healthier economic times, this year any such reward would fly in the face of the financial realities confronting the majority of our citizens," Reardon said in a prepared statement.

Many of Reardon's employees would have otherwise received a merit raise of between 2 percent and 3 percent, said Christopher Schwarzen, a spokesman for Reardon. It's not clear exactly how much money the change will save, he said.

Reardon acknowledged that he doesn't have the authority to cut merit raises for employees who work under other elected officials in the county, but urged others to do the same. If they do, about 170 employees will be affected, Schwarzen said. The rest of the county's more than 3,000 employees work under contract, he said.

Council Chairman Dave Somers said the council will discuss expanding the partial wage freeze to every employee in the coming weeks.

"I will recommend that we follow suit," he said.

Reardon's hold on raises isn't the first step county leaders have taken to stanch the flow of tax dollars.

The council approved this month a hiring freeze for all open county government positions. That freeze came after a battle with Reardon over who has that authority over the employees of other elected officials.

This year marks the first that county leaders will adopt a two-year budget, instead of a one-year plan. That change alone could save the county more than $100,000 in extra work hours spent by employees preparing the budget. The council approved that change in March.

The five-member council won't sign off on the 2009-10 budget until November, but residents will have their chance to weigh in on how their tax dollars are spent. A series of public forums has been set, with one next week in Arlington. Two more forums, in Snohomish and Edmonds, are also scheduled for September.

Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.

Budget forums

Schedule for county budget forums:

6:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Stillaguamish Senior Center, 18308 Smokey Point Blvd., Arlington.

6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Willis D. Tucker Community Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive, Snohomish.

6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Edmonds City Council Chambers, 250 Fifth Ave. N., Edmonds.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA