Snohomish County government is big business! It requires more than 2,600 employees with a $650 million budget to provide for the needs of our nearly 700,000 citizens.
Our state and federal governments should run as efficiently and compassionately – and exercise continuous fiscal restraint and provide for the ever-increasing needs of our citizens – as well as our county government does. Much credit for this demanding and exemplary performance by Snohomish County government rests with our two senior council members, Gary Nelson and Kirke Sievers.
Local property taxes don’t begin to cover the cost of running Snohomish County government. We compete fiercely and quite successfully with all the other counties and major cities in the state for state and federal funding, for our citizens’ needs for such programs as law enforcement; courts; detention; social services for our thousands of sick, disabled or otherwise needy citizens; transportation needs; solid waste removal; storm water control and parks and recreation programs to name only some of our countywide activities.
We are fortunate in recent years that our county government has not been engulfed in scandals, despair or fiscal irresponsibility that seems to be plaguing so many governmental entities throughout our nation. This is no time to put inexperienced people at the helm of our county government!
Our citizens require and demand ever-increasing services, while our voters demand fewer taxes. It takes dedication, experience and compassion to lead our county government well through those difficult times. The citizens of our county need decision-makers like our senior council members, Gary Nelson and Kirke Sievers. Our voters need to retain them on the County Council.
Lake Stevens
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