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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 County considers expanding Superior Court complex The facility is cramped and inefficient, but fixing the shortcomings could cost $193 million By Jeff Switzer Herald Writer A property-tax proposal might reach voters this fall asking for money to build a $193 million expansion to the Snohomish County Superior Court complex. The County Council is debating whether that's the right time to ask voters for more money. On the plus side, turnout will be high for the presidential election, but the measure also might be buried at the bottom of the ballot among other competing tax proposals, council members said. Politicians need to carefully decide whether there are too many tax proposals in play. "The question has to be raised: What will the people of Snohomish County take?" County Councilman Mike Cooper asked. A $169.4 million expansion is proposed to be grafted on the outside of the current Superior Court building. A 500-space parking garage might cost another $23.4 million. If a nine-year property tax levy is proposed, the owner of an average $346,800 house in Snohomish County would pay at most $94 annually, starting next year. The figure would be calculated at 27 cents per $1,000 of property value. The annual cost would drop a few dollars each year until the bill is about $74 in 2017. The levy would need a simple majority to pass. County Council members are looking to muster other money so taxpayers would pay less in property taxes for the project. The existing building is dysfunctional, according to three studies of the facility, presiding Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman told the council Monday. Energy and maintenance costs are extremely high. "All that money is going down a rathole right now," McKeeman said. Security and space for ­workers is lacking, he added. "Economic times are difficult now, but things are just going to get more expensive if we put it off," McKeeman said. Showers were converted to space for sheriff's office workers, and prosecutors are working out of broom closets, County Councilman Brian Sullivan said. "I have to say I'm appalled at the working conditions over there," Sullivan said. He and others want to push ahead with talks about a ballot measure for this fall at the soonest. Aug. 11 is the deadline for putting a measure on the November ballot. A decision about whether to ask voters for a property tax increase might be made within the next two weeks, County Councilman Dave Gossett said. Also, money should be set aside in the 2009 and 2010 county budget to defray costs, he said. High fuel and food costs and possible competing transit tax measures might make the November ballot a tough sell, County Council chairman Dave Somers said. "This may not be the best time," Somers said. Sound Transit might ask voters this November to increase a sales tax for more buses and trains, something Cooper said is a higher priority than the justice center project. The soonest voters should be asked to pay for an expanded justice center is spring 2009, Cooper said. "Spring elections ... or August mail-in primary elections are rapidly becoming the best and most practical time to pass measures," he said. Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.

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