The four Democrats on the Snohomish County Council voted as a bloc Monday morning to override a veto by County Executive Aaron Reardon.
The action reaffirms the council’s approval to carry over nearly $500,000 of money budgeted in 2007 but not spent.
The money is intended for future courthouse security improvements, flood control and County Council contingency accounts.
“The money we’re rolling over from the 2007 budget is not being appropriated for the council for any other purpose,” County Councilman Mike Cooper said. “We’re simply rolling those dollars over.”
Republican John Koster voted against the veto override. He said he would have supported the move if an $80,000 council contingency account would be cut from the action.
Even so, Koster criticized Reardon’s office for staying silent on the proposal to carry over the 2007 money.
“We heard no protest until the veto letter came,” Koster said.
Reardon, a Democrat, vetoed the list of spending proposals last week saying they were not necessary at this time. The money might be needed to bolster the county’s bottom line as tough economic times loom this year and next.
The council rolled over spending of:
Speaking for courthouse security advisers, Superior Court administrator Bob Terwilliger urged the council to override the veto so the money would be available to improve security at the county campus this year.
Monday’s was the second veto override by the County Council since Reardon took office in 2004, and the first override since Democrats extended their majority to four of the five seats on the council.
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