Snohomish County to hire three more policy analysts

Published 11:13 pm Thursday, May 1, 2008

EVERETT — To get a better handle on traffic, land-use and county finances, the Snohomish County Council plans to add three expert analysts to the county payroll.

The proposal surfaced Monday, and by Wednesday the council voted to add the analysts and an assistant. Once hired, the council’s total number of analysts will increase from five to eight.

The council steered up to $342,000 for the new staff members, including $280,000 for salaries and benefits.

The council acted despite criticism from County Executive Aaron Reardon and Republican County Councilman John Koster that tight budget times are coming.

The decision was justified, said County Council chairman Dave Somers, who sponsored the move.

Council analysts review proposed policy changes and contracts, but the five on staff have been unable to keep up with the needs of the growing county, Somers said. Consequently, he said the council’s oversight of the nearly $700 million annual budget has suffered for lack of staff.

“It’s a modest proposal given the course of history and the growth in this county,” Somers said.

The Democratic majority on the council voted as a bloc in the 4-1 vote. Koster voted against the decision, which he called imprudent and fiscally irresponsible.

“We’re going to have to start making tough choices if we keep spending money like there’s no tomorrow,” Koster said.

Somers bristled and said the money is accounted for. Money saved from a recently canceled consultant contract will pay for the salaries for the rest of this year.

Council members said they want to be able to draft their own policy initiatives for transportation solutions instead of reacting to proposals from Reardon.

Koster said the positions weren’t in the budget. Additionally, he said the council doesn’t know how much it will cost to remodel the eighth floor to make room for the workers.

Koster was at odds with the rest of the council last week when the Democratic majority voted to fire one of its analysts, Ed Moats, who is a Republican.

Reardon opposed the council’s bid to add the employees, and said it could spell layoffs elsewhere in the county as the 2009 budget is drafted.

The spending isn’t critical or time sensitive, Reardon said.

“We asked them to put the brakes on spending,” Reardon said. “We want the council to have the resources they feel they need, but we have a budget process to add staff.”

The council doesn’t have the bench to do the financial oversight necessary for the legislative branch of government, County Councilman Brian Sullivan said.

“This machine is too lean,” Sullivan said.

Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.