Parks, planning win out in county budget

By WARREN CORNWALL

Herald Writer

Parks and planning got multimillion-dollar boosts, but a proposal to more than double a utility fee was roundly rejected in the 2001 budget approved by the Snohomish County Council Tuesday.

In a 4-1 vote split down party lines, the council endorsed a $581.6 million budget for the coming year, an overall drop in spending of nearly 5 percent compared with the 2000 budget.

Council Chairwoman Barbara Cothern said the budget, though tight, marked a new effort to deal with the fast-paced growth in much of the county.

She highlighted a plan to borrow $17.4 million to buy park land and speed planning to manage the county’s watersheds.

"Both parks and planning are critical investments for today and for the future," Cothern said. "We need to invest up front."

Gary Nelson, the council’s sole Republican, cast the lone vote against the plan. He warned that the council was embarking on vague new entitlement programs without enough details to ensure the money was well spent.

He directed his comments to the $5 million parks spending, and an additional $2 million carried over from 2000 and earmarked for neighborhood improvement projects.

"Let’s face the fact it is in fact an entitlement," he said.

The $17.4 million in loans are supposed to be paid off with a combination of $500,000 in higher-than-expected tax revenues and $1.1 million per year in taxes paid when real estate is sold.

Council members overcame differences long enough to reject an increase in the annual fee paid by landowners to a county utility that manages surface water such as streams and water runoff.

The unanimous vote on that budget section was a defeat for County Executive Bob Drewel, who had sought an increase from $31.77 to $65, with another $15 increase in 2002 for people living near cities.

Council members said little at the time of the vote. But several had earlier questioned how the additional money would be spent. In public comments Monday, a number of prominent environmentalists warned that the county would be wasting money if it increased the fee without toughening development standards.

Drewel said his office would seek to work with the council to answer their concerns. But he noted the water management agency still faces growing demands to protect water and salmon in the county.

"We’ll continue to work with them," he said of the council. "We heard the public testimony."

All sides, however, warned that the county was going to face tough financial times in the future in the wake of voter-approved tax limits.

The recently approved Initiative 722 caps overall increases in property tax revenues at 2 percent per year. That forced the county to lower planned increases for road construction and a fund to protect open space from 6 percent to 2 percent.

The road fund would get $1.4 million less in property taxes than expected in 2001, according to county council staff. That impact could grow to a total of $65 million over the next six years, according to the county’s finance department. That includes federal and state road money lost because it requires matching funds from the county.

"I am not unaware of the message that the voters sent as far as 722," Drewel said. "I am not convinced they understand the relationship with how the county raises money for transportation projects."

Councilman Dave Somers said county officials need to communicate better with citizens to help them understand what their tax dollars buy and what may be lost with tax cuts.

"There’s a real disconnect between the public and county government and other levels of government," he said. "We have a lot of work to do to reconnect with the citizens."

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Lynnwood man dies in fatal crash on US 2 near Gold Bar

The Washington State Patrol said the driver was street racing prior to the crash on Friday afternoon.

Thousands gather to watch fireworks over Lake Ballinger from Nile Shrine Golf Course and Lake Ballinger Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Thousands ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Mountlake Terrace fireworks show

The city hosts its Independence Day celebrations the day before the July 4 holiday.

Liam Shakya, 3, waves at a float passing by during the Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett celebrates Fourth of July with traditional parade

Thousands celebrated Independence Day by going to the annual parade, which traveled through the the city’s downtown core.

Ian Saltzman
Everett Public Schools superintendent wins state award

A group of school administrators named Ian Saltzman as a top educational leader.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.