EVERETT — Snohomish County Executive John Lovick on Wednesday recommended a 2016 budget with few sacrifices and a $4 million property-tax refund.
The executive’s proposed operating budget of $228 million and 2,817 employees would add more than $2 million and 27 positions to the current budget. Total revenue, including county fees and grants, would top $842 million.
“This budget reflects those values we hold dear,” Lovick said. “It reaches out to those who need our help the most. It strengthens our neighborhoods and communities. And it holds us accountable to the people we serve. It is a solid budget — compassionate, courageous and financially sound.”
Lovick spoke at noon to a roomful of about 150 people, mostly county employees, assembled in the county’s Robert Drewel Building.
The executive’s mostly upbeat message met with skepticism from County Council Chairman Dave Somers, who will have a lead role crafting the council’s version of the budget over the next couple of months. Somers is challenging Lovick for the executive’s job in the Nov. 3 election.
“I want to give it a fair chance, but it doesn’t add up to the numbers I’ve been given,” he said.
Somers and other council members have talked for months about a host of looming financial issues. Immediate concerns include projections that the county will overspend its 2015 operating budget by at least $4.5 million and revenues through mid-year coming in $2.7 million below estimates.
Lovick underlined the county’s strong credit rating, but Somers pointed instead to concerns that those same agencies expressed over the county’s cash reserves falling too low.
The county’s elected leaders last year managed to adopt the current $226 million operating budget after a difficult process. A divided council made significant changes to Lovick’s recommendation, which the executive vetoed. It took the sides until Dec. 17 to reach a compromise to avert the first county-level budget shutdown in Washington’s history.
Highlights from Lovick’s proposed 2016 budget include:
Refunding $4 million in property taxes destined for the $162 million courthouse project in downtown Everett, which Lovick wants to abandon for now.
Using some of the $75 million in courthouse bonds already purchased to make “life support” repairs to the existing 1967 courthouse building.
Avoiding cuts to sheriff or jail operations; maintaining school resource officers.
Increasing to $1.5 million support for a program to build sidewalks and other pedestrian-safety improvements around elementary schools — a 50 percent bump.
Using $400,000 to support First Steps, a social services program for young mothers.
Adding $200,000 and two employees to the Risk Management Division to help respond to public records requests.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
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