Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers speaks to the crowd during an opening ceremony at the new PAE2 Amazon Fulfillment Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers speaks to the crowd during an opening ceremony at the new PAE2 Amazon Fulfillment Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish County executive pitches $1.66B budget

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers announced his proposed budget Tuesday afternoon. Public comment is slated to begin Oct. 10.

EVERETT — Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers proposed a 2024 budget for the county Tuesday, saying it reflects goals of “meeting responsibilities” and “careful stewardship.”

Money for building parks and facilities, as well as data processing, are looking at a combined $31 million decrease in the proposal due to the exhaustion of pandemic-era money.

“Those are multi-year funds that had an influx primarily from ARPA grants and are being expended,” county spokesperson Kent Patton wrote in an email.

Many parts of the county budget, however, are looking at increases. The initial budget proposal is $1.66 billion, up from $1.52 billion last year.

Public comment begins Oct. 10.

“The yearly budget is the opportunity for us to shape how Snohomish County will respond to today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities,” Nate Nehring, the Snohomish County Council’s vice chair, said in a press release. “The process in Snohomish County is transparent and allows us to make decisions grounded in reality.”

Somers, in the midst of a reelection campaign that he has said will be his last, touted county leadership for their funding proposals.

“Not one county leader proposed frivolous or wasteful spending,” Somers said in prepared remarks.

Law and justice agencies, including the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices, makes up 75% of the proposed $330 million general fund, the same percentage as last year’s budget, Somers said. The 2024 proposal includes pay increases the county previously agreed to with Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office deputies; funding to continue county search-and-rescue helicopter operations; and money for trauma kits.

Somers also mentioned funding for new public dashboards for transparency about incidents where deputies use force.

The Human Services Department funding proposal is $248 million, up $23 million from 2023. That department includes aging and disability services; behavioral health; housing and community services; and veterans programs. Snohomish County recently announced the $114.5 million Housing and Behavioral Health Capital Fund, an investment to create hundreds of affordable housing units.

The proposed budget for the county’s road department is $161 million, up $14 million from the previous year.

“We appreciate the collaboration we have with the Executive and his staff,” Snohomish County Council Chair Jared Mead said in a press release. “The Council understands the hard work that goes into balancing the County’s many priorities.”

Other big budget items include solid waste ($98 million) and for Seattle Paine Field International Airport ($81 million). Solid waste would get approximately $12 million more under the proposed budget. Somers heralded the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Applied Research and Development Center — a project to create more eco-friendly jet fuel — as a win for the county.

“We will continue to work with Boeing, their global supply chain, and all of the facets of the worldwide aviation and aerospace industries to ensure they have everything they need from Snohomish County,” Somers said in his prepared remarks. “We also are excited that both hydrogen and electric aviation companies are part of our aerospace cluster. We have the past, present, and future of aerospace right here in our back yard.”

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jordyhansen.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

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.