Jail, labor costs push sheriff’s budget $5M over

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office overspent in 2013 by an estimated $5 million, mostly because of jail costs and new labor contracts.

The problems are not new.

More than a year ago, the County Council told then-Sheriff John Lovick’s staff to rein in costs and provide regular progress updates.

That was after the jail went about $2 million over budget for 2012.

Yet on Wednesday, council members were again addressing a budget overrun.

“Just the enormity of it is a red flag, and these costs need to get under control,” Councilman Terry Ryan said.

The $5 million figure is an estimate from at least a month ago; the full number won’t be confirmed until February, when final accounting has been completed through the end of last year.

Ryan, who is in his first week in his county job, declined to pin blame on anyone, but said he wants the issue solved.

Councilman Ken Klein, also in his first week, asked whether the problems were likely to resurface.

“A big chunk of this is a one-time hit that obviously isn’t going to reoccur in 2014,” said Brian Haseleu from the county finance department.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Shari Ireton said the reasons for the rising costs are complicated and have been discussed openly for months.

Of the $5 million, $2.8 million stemmed from three new labor contracts signed last year. They covered sheriff’s deputies, corrections staff and sheriff’s office management.

Deputies have been working without a contract since April 2011, so the new bargaining agreement includes pay raises retroactive to that time. For corrections officers, raises go back to January 2012.

The other higher-than-expected costs mostly involve the jail: $785,000 for detention overtime; $430,000 for staffing the medical corrections unit; $420,000 to contract for outside medical services; and failing to meet a target to under-spend the available jail budget by $215,000.

The sheriff’s office also paid out $350,000 because of higher-than-expected turnover among deputies, which required paying out accrued leave to departing employees.

County Executive John Lovick was sheriff until being appointed to the county’s top job in June. Ty Trenary, a sheriff’s captain, was appointed to succeed Lovick a month later.

To cover the overruns, the council took $3.7 million from reserve funds and transferred another $1.3 million from a fund for unexpected personnel costs.

The vote was unanimous.

“The overtime’s been an issue for some time,” Council Chairman Dave Somers said. “I spoke with the sheriff yesterday and reminded him it’s a top priority to get this under control.”

While agreeing that costs need to come down, Somers said problems involving inmate health care, to some extent, have been beyond the sheriff’s control.

Early last year, Lovick requested an outside review of the county lockup following two high-profile deaths involving inmates who were both in their 20s.

This fall, a 100-page federal report identified a host of problems: inadequate staffing, overcrowding and a health policy in need of “comprehensive reform.”

Ireton said those jail-related challenges are playing a big role in driving up expenses.

“We are doing everything we can to reduce the cost, but the bottom line is when the NIC (National Institute of Corrections) came in and did the assessment of our facility, one of the top recommendations they had was to reduce population and increase staffing,” Ireton said.

The jail has made progress in some areas.

It has filled all openings for medical staff, including nurses and a doctor, who have been hard to recruit. That should reduce costs for outside health-care services. Even so, Ireton noted, the National Institute of Corrections said the jail’s medical staff should be expanded beyond what’s in the budget.

The original sheriff’s office 2013 budget was $93.5 million. The jail accounts for just under half of those costs.

Law and justice costs have ballooned as a portion of county spending over the past two decades. Courts, police and related functions now eat up more than 70 percent of the operating budget, compared to just over 50 percent in 1990.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.