Gloomy picture for Snohomish County finances
Published 11:08 pm Monday, September 29, 2008
EVERETT — The next two years could be even bleaker than first predicted for county workers and people who rely on their services, Snohomish County Council chairman Dave Somers said.
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon recommended early this month that nearly 100 county jobs be cut and about 50 more vacant positions be eliminated.
That’s probably not going to be enough, Somers said.
“I think the revenue picture is even gloomier than we thought,” he said.
The council will present its predictions for the county’s financial state for 2009 and 2010 in a public hearing Wednesday, Somers said. That’s when the council will publicly meet with Reardon and his staff for the first time since Reardon released his budget proposal. County taxpayers are also invited to the meeting, where they will be able to share their thoughts on how to manage the more than $600 million needed to run the county each year.
County financial experts say they expect the county to be about $10 million short by the end of the year.
“Given the economic conditions, it’s getting worse, not better,” Somers said.
Somers tossed out Reardon’s budget proposal less than a week after it was released. The council chairman and other elected leaders complained that Reardon didn’t consider their opinions when he proposed cuts to their departments.
Wednesday’s hearing will satisfy a charter requirement that Reardon’s budget proposal be publicly discussed, but the council will consider the executive’s ideas only as recommendations, Somers said.
“We’re hoping to have an open dialogue with the County Council on the budget, and let them know that our door is open and that we stand ready to assist them wherever they require our help,” Reardon said.
County residents have already attended three public forums to lobby for programs and services they believe should be priorities. Wednesday’s hearing will likely include more of the same. The hearing is scheduled to last one hour but it will be extended if necessary, Somers said.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
