With all the areas of disagreement among the Snohomish County Council and between it and County Executive John Lovick regarding the budget, it might seem likely, following Lovick’s veto Wednesday of the budget approved by the council, that the county is headed for at least a partial county government shutdown on Jan. 1.
We can hope, instead, that with a long list of budget differences among the council members and Lovick that there are plenty of opportunities here for some horse-trading and compromise.
Among them:
- A 3-2 majority on the council wants revenue from an earlier passed tax increase set aside for the purpose of repaying construction bonds for the new $162 million county courthouse. Because payments on the bond aren’t due yet, Lovick’s budget sought to use that money for other expenses.
- A 3-2 council majority voted to halve funding for the Snohomish Health District’s First Steps program, which provides parenting, nutrition and health counseling and support to young low-income and at-risk mothers. Lovick wants full funding, $900,000, restored for the program.
- A 3-2 council majority voted to eliminate a newly created deputy director position in the Medical Examiner’s Office that Lovick says is necessary for reform of an office that in the recent past has cost the county $600,000 in employee lawsuit settlements.
- A 3-2 council majority rolled back pay raises that Lovick granted for some county managers, saying Lovick failed to follow procedure to increase salaries.
- And a different 3-2 council majority elected not to levy the county’s 1 percent property tax increase it is allowed to take each year without seeking voter approval. Lovick had included it in his budget.
Late last month we urged the council to reconsider its decision to cut funding for the First Steps program. The program will eventually lose its eligibility for its current funding source, a sliver of the county’s sales tax revenue intended for mental health and addiction programs, but the county should make a point of funding it. It’s undeniably within the mandate of the health district and provides a return on its investment in healthy children who can become productive adults. Taking just half of the 1 percent property tax increase, which would add $1.27 total to the annual property tax bill of a house assessed at the county average of $244,600, would easily fund the program.
Another opportunity for compromise: In exchange for rolling back the pay increases for managers, keep the deputy medical examiner.
Similar compromise can determine how much of the courthouse tax increase is set aside for bond repayment.
Nobody is going to get everything they seek. But everyone can be satisfied with the outcome.
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