OLYMPIA — A bill to add two Superior Court judges in Snohomish County cleared the Legislature on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 5575 would create and provide state funding for the two additional judges, bringing the county’s total to 17. It would be the first expansion of the bench in the county since 2007.
The House approved the legislation on a 96-0 vote Wednesday. It passed the Senate 47-0 in mid-February. It will now go to Gov. Jay Inslee for his expected signature.
Meanwhile, lawmakers have included funding for the state’s share of first-year costs, $341,000, in the supplemental budget that will be voted on before the session ends March 10.
In Washington, the state pays half the salary and all of the benefits for each judicial position. Counties must pony up half the salary and cover costs of office expenses and court staff.
The salary for a Superior Court judge will be $203,169, with annual benefits of $69,077. That works out to $341,324 for the state fiscal year that begins July 1.
Snohomish County expects its annual tab will be around $1 million. That tally accounts for its share of salaries for the two judges, plus the wages of a court reporter, law clerk and two judicial assistants for each judge.
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