EVERETT — Snohomish County kicked off its budget process Wednesday, as Executive Dave Somers released his recommended budget, one that will spend less each of the next two years than in 2024.

The county is taking a different approach this year. Leaders will approve a two-year budget for 2025 and 2026, rather than the usual annual budget.

“We think that this will allow us to realize some efficiencies and provide a longer planning framework for departments and offices, allowing us to stay strategically ambitious and yet realistic,” Somers told the Snohomish County Council in a budget presentation Wednesday.

The proposed budget for 2025 is $1.54 billion, with 2026 at $1.51 billion. This year’s budget was about $1.6 billion.

“With the federal funding expiring, we cannot sustain the service levels they supported,” Somers said.

Here’s a few takeaways from what Somers is looking to fund.

General fund: 75% to law enforcement

Under the county executive’s proposal, over 75% of the county’s general fund would go to public safety over the next two years. The general fund total for that biennium is about $699 million, with over a half a billion dollars going toward the sheriff’s office, jail, court system and other law and justice agencies.

Over the next two years, Somers is proposing to increase the sheriff’s office funding by about $3 million and its corrections bureau by about $3.6 million. Nearly all of that funding comes out of the county’s general fund.

The sheriff’s office expects an increase in revenue. Projections in the county’s budget books show an expected revenue increase for the sheriff’s office from $13.6 million in 2023 to over $20 million by 2026. Snohomish County has agreements with several small cities and towns for contract law enforcement services.

The sheriff’s office has 400 full-time positions budgeted for both 2025 and 2026, four less than 2024. The initial corrections department budget shows staffing for 350 jobs over the next two years. Both corrections and the sheriff’s department have had trouble filling open positions.

In 1998, 56% of the county’s general fund was dedicated to public safety, Somers noted Wednesday. The increase has come with challenges, he added.

“This is not only a sign of our prioritizing public safety, but also about the structural challenge of county government,” he said. “That shift of 20% toward public safety means that our other general fund departments have been squeezed for every bit of efficiency.”

Public Works cuts

Public Works remains the county’s largest department, funding wise, with over $500 million in the initial budget proposal.

The department had a budget nearing $350 million in 2024, while the proposal would give it $245 million in 2025 and $258 million in 2026. Most of the department’s funding comes from special revenue, which has seen historically slow growth the past few years, Public Works Director Kelly Snyder wrote in an email.

“Solid Waste municipal fees have remained unchanged since 2009 and the Road Fund has increased 2% annually,” Snyder wrote. “This is while the cost of materials, services, labor and equipment has increased by more than 20%. This is not sustainable and therefore we are now faced with the challenge of adjusting program plans and budgets.”

She went on to add the proposed budget delays some work, but prioritizes safety. Some positions will be ”strategically filled and or remain unfilled.”

Including solid waste, the public works department had 573 full-time positions in 2024. That would increase by three over the next two years under the executive’s proposal. 

The department is tasked with maintaining over 1,600 miles of road and over 200 bridges.

Airport looks to the future

Under Somers’ plan, Paine Field would receive about $72 million in 2025, about $15 million less than its 2024 budget. The initial budget proposal has the airport receiving $91 million in 2026. The plan includes funding for nine new jobs at the airport.

The airport is funded through “separate revenue streams” from the county general fund, officials said.

Snohomish County recently signed off on a new master plan for Paine Field, with projects potentially costing $297 million over the next two decades. Paine Field is expected to reach 4 million annual passengers by 2040.

Conservation getting more money

The Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is looking at budget increases for each of the next two years.

The initial budget proposal shows over $250 million slated for the department over the next two years. In 2026, the proposal is for $129 million — about $11 million more than its 2024 budget.

No layoffs

Somers said the budget contains no layoffs.

He said the county has “scoured” the budget for potential savings.

“We have inflation impacting our bottom line, ever more residents to serve, the end of the pandemic relief funding and a systematic budget gap all coming together at the same time,” Somers said. “Even in light of these sobering facts, let me tell you something. Good news. I am proposing a balanced budget without any layoffs.”

The budget now moves on to the County Council for final approval. The council usually decides on a final budget by the end of November.

“We appreciate the work the Executive and his team have put into the proposed budget,” council Chair Jared Mead said in a press release. “I look forward to launching the Council process and ensuring we are doing all we can to serve the needs of Snohomish County’s residents.”

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; X: @jordyhansen.