Voters may be asked to vote on criminal justice center for Snohomish County

Published 10:14 pm Monday, July 21, 2008

EVERETT — Voters could be asked in November if they want to pony up for a new, $163.2 million criminal justice center for Snohomish County.

Or they may not — it depends partly on whether County Executive Aaron Reardon agrees on the need.

The County Council voted 3-2 on Monday to send the measure to the Nov. 4 ballot.

The current courthouse — part of which opened in 1910, with an addition in 1967 — would be remodeled and a 10-story addition would be built in the space between the current courthouse and Wall Street. The plan leaves out a $23.4 million parking garage, which had been considered earlier.

The 30-year property-tax measure would cost 10.9 cents per $1,000 of assessed value of a home. That would be $38 a year for the owner of a $350,000 home.

The current building is overcrowded and lacks adequate security, some at the county say.

“It’s been cobbled together,” County Councilman Dave Somers said. “It is definitely old, it’s very antiquated — I’d go as far as saying rundown.”

Reardon has 10 days to sign the measure to send it to the ballot, veto it or take no action. If he does nothing, the measure will go before voters.

Reardon isn’t necessarily sold on the plan, spokesman Christopher Schwarzen said. The executive will need to look at the details of what was approved by the council before he makes a decision, Schwarzen said.

In general, “I think Aaron figures there are probably more pressing issues facing government today than going out and building another government building,” Schwarzen said.

Reardon’s office was represented on a study panel along with representatives of the various aspects of law enforcement in the county, including the sheriff’s office, judges, the prosecuting attorney’s office and clerks, Somers said.

The study showed that the courthouse needs nearly 300,000 square feet more space for new courtrooms and offices for prosecutors and court clerks, among other necessities of Superior Court operations.

What resulted was a master plan for the expanded complex. A scaled back, $95 million plan was on the table but was overruled by a majority of council members.

“It essentially would bring them up to the standard for existing workload but not allow room for future expansion,” Somers said.

Deanna Dawson, an executive director in Reardon’s office who had input on the study, said the larger plan assumes staffing increases the county might not be able to afford.

“We don’t believe those are realistic assumptions,” Dawson said. “This is asking the voters to approve a building we don’t have the means to fill.”

County Council members John Koster and Mike Cooper voted no. It would take a vote by four of the five county councilmen to override a veto of the ballot measure by Reardon.

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.