On the eve of his 100th day in office, Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon looked back over his first few months in the job and detailed his ambitious plan to change the way county government operates.
But some of those who could help, or hinder, Reardon’s efforts say the new executive still has a bit of work to do to create the support he’ll need to be successful.
Friday marks Reardon’s 100th day in office.
He used the upcoming benchmark on Wednesday to cite his progress and spell out his plans in a speech to the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce.
As expected, he stressed how the county’s pockets will be increasingly empty in the years to come. The struggling economy and citizen-approved tax-cutting initiatives are partly to blame, as well as the costs of opening the new jail in March 2005.
County budget experts say the impending red ink, caused by increasing costs and declining revenues, could reach a potential $16.6 million deficit in 2005. That could be followed by a deficit of $15.9 million in 2006.
In his speech, Reardon said he will propose a no-new-taxes budget for 2005.
"Government cannot be all things to all people," he said.
County government should stop "thinning the soup," Reardon said, and programs will compete against each other for funding.
"Programs that are not priorities will not be funded," he said.
The new executive has spent much time since taking office focusing on priority-based budgeting.
He has followed up on an agreement with the Boeing Co. on the plan to build the new 7E7 jetliner in Everett.
Reardon has also been talking with NASCAR officials as they continue their search for a Pacific Northwest location for a racetrack. And he has formed a citizens cabinet, a 19-member group that will write an economic plan for the county intended to help lure new businesses.
Despite all the activity, some Snohomish County Council members expressed concerns. Most seem to center on Reardon’s fast-forward approach, which has left some feeling they haven’t been kept up to speed on the executive’s plans.
"There’s been a lot of talk about working cooperatively," County Council chairman John Koster said. "I don’t see the hand in the glove yet."
"I agree with many of the goals that the executive has at least given lip service to," he said. That includes building a budget based on priorities.
The council needs to be involved in setting priorities, because the council approves the budget.
Even so, Koster praised some of the things Reardon has done, such as hiring Craig Ladiser to run the county’s planning department and bringing Paul Roberts on board as an adviser to the executive.
Koster, a former dairyman, said Reardon made a good move by naming John Roney the county’s agriculture coordinator.
Reardon has had only one public dispute with the council since taking office. He tangled with Councilman Jeff Sax in February after Sax asked for more details on a proposed $2.8 million contract for public defenders. The council approved the contract last month.
Sax, too, has a mixed review of the executive’s first 100 days.
He said the changes made in the planning department were good. But Sax disagreed with Reardon’s policy that council staff members must go to department heads first before contacting county workers for information.
"I think that was a bad decision," he said. "I think information flow inside the county has screeched to a halt."
Sax said he would like to see the executive’s office work on more than just press releases and speeches.
Reardon has given three major speeches — an inauguration speech, a state of the county speech and Wednesday’s 100-day review — and his office has put out more than 30 press releases.
"It’s a nonstop announcement after announcement after announcement," Sax said. "I’d like to get past the press releases and get down to work."
Reardon, however, said he has tried to keep the council in the loop. They should know what the executive’s office is doing and when they’re doing it, he added.
"I have a no-surprises rule," Reardon said.
And the public should be told, too.
"We want to tell people what we’re doing," Reardon added.
To be sure, not all council members want the executive to take a hands-off approach on policy issues.
Councilman Dave Gossett, one of the council’s two Democrats, said county residents expect their county executive to be a leader. And some of the ideas he’s proposed deal with issues residents are interested in, Gossett said.
If the executive takes the lead on a priorities-based budget, it will save the council from getting bogged down in political rhetoric on the topic. The council will still have input on the budget.
Gossett said Reardon has quickly picked up on the big issues the county is facing: "He’s hit the ground running."
There is some common ground for the council.
"I would love to see him succeed," Sax said.
"We’re all hired by the people to make government work," Koster said. "We’ll find a way to get that done. We just will. That’s our job."
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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