Snohomish Health District avoids layoffs next year
Published 1:30 am Sunday, December 18, 2016
EVERETT — The Snohomish Health District plans to cut eight positions from its workforce next year, but has avoided layoffs.
That’s due in part to extra financial help the public health agency got from area cities and the county.
Earlier this year the health district asked every city in the county to write a $2 per person check to help stave off even bigger layoffs and financial cuts next year.
Thirteen cities agreed, settling on contributions of 50 cents to $2 per person. The county also increased its contribution. Those two steps netted the health district $430,000 in new revenues next year, said Heather Thomas a health district spokeswoman.
The health district said the money was needed because it has cut the equivalent of 90 full-time positions since 2008.
This year, it has 146 full-time employees. Even with the additional revenue, that number is expected to drop to 137 next year.
The eight positions being eliminated currently are unfilled, so no one is being laid off.
The health district will have a 2017 operating budget of $16.5 million. Its single largest source of revenue, $4.1 million, comes from state and federal grants. Snohomish County will spend a total of $2.2 million next year supporting health district programs. The health district will tap $251,029 from its reserves to balance the budget.
A major change upcoming at the health district next year has been approved by its board. Dr. Gary Goldbaum, who has served as both the agency’s health officer and its administrator, is retiring in March. Those two roles will be split next year.
The new health officer will work part time for Skagit County Public Health. Having 25 percent of the health officer’s salary coming from Skagit County is expected to save the Snohomish Health District about $48,000, according to Pete Mayer, the health district’s deputy director.
A full-time administrator will take over administrative duties, in effect being like the chief operating officer of the agency.
The health district’s board is considering whether to spend $1.9 million to replace the heating and air conditioning systems and make other improvements at its current offices at 3020 Rucker Ave. in Everett.
The question is whether to make the improvements or move to a new building. The health district board is scheduled to discuss the issue at its meeting next month, Thomas said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
