County Council delays vote on hiring freeze

EVERETT — Snohomish County Council members decided Wednesday to wait another week before voting on a hiring freeze to give themselves time to examine unintended consequences.

The pause came after Sheriff Ty Trenary, Clerk Sonya Kraski and Auditor Carolyn Weikel spoke of problems a freeze could create in running their departments.

Trenary said putting a halt to new hiring would hurt his ability to recruit good employees. Kraski said the freeze would put her office at a disadvantage because lower pay has already left her staff facing high turnover. Weikel said her office relies on temporary employees to run elections.

“What I’m hearing today is that there are some things we haven’t thought of,” Councilman Brian Sullivan said.

Sullivan, who proposed the freeze last month, said he still favors it as a way for the council to manage the budget. The county executive recommends an annual budget, but final authority for financial decisions rests with the council.

The council plans to reconsider the freeze at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The county has nearly 2,800 budgeted positions, though as many as 40 percent could be exempted from the freeze. Exclusions in the current proposal apply to employees who perform essential health and safety functions. Managers defined under county code would be exempted as well.

The council could expand the list to allow managers to fill positions funded through state or federal grants. They’re likely to allow the auditor to hire temporary election employees, too.

“If we’re going to exempt everyone who has made a good argument that they should be exempted, then we would not be doing a hiring freeze, essentially,” said Councilman Ken Klein, who opposes the move.

Klein would prefer to wait on Executive John Lovick’s recommendations for the 2016 budget. That announcement is expected by the end of the month.

Law and justice functions account for 73.5 percent of Snohomish County’s current $226 million operating budget. That includes sheriff’s deputies, jail staff, the courts and attorneys. Those are among the top functions likely to be left out of any hiring moratorium.

How much money the move would save remains uncertain.

The county last enacted a hiring freeze in 2008 and extended it through 2010. It was projected to save $300,000 in 2009.

County Council Chairman Dave Somers said he’s inclined to support the freeze, even if its value lies more in the message than in dollars saved. Somers has been sounding the alarm about the county budget as he competes against Lovick for the executive’s job in November.

The county faces financial pressure from rising labor costs and uncompensated expenses from the Oso mudslide response, among other factors. A pending federal lawsuit, if successful, could prevent the county from receiving about $5 million in yearly sales tax from businesses at the Tulalip Tribes’ Quil Ceda Village.

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

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)
Southbound lanes on Highway 99 reopen after crash

The crash, on Highway 99 at 176th Street SW, blocked traffic for over an hour. Traffic was diverted to 168th Street SW.

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.