8/28/08

County faces budget woes, hiring freeze

by Beckye Randall

The Snohomish County Council has unanimously approved a hiring freeze for county government, effective immediately, and is seeking public input on a new two-year budget with a series of community forums.

The hiring freeze came in response to declining revenue projections that, according to the ordinance, “suggest that Snohomish County is likely to face budget constraints like those experienced by the State of Washington and other Washington counties.”

The emergency ordinance was also prompted by a recent order issued by County Executive Aaron Reardon that proposed an across-the-board hiring freeze on offices run by elected officials, in addition to departments managed by the county executive. Council members charged that applying that executive order to elected offices raised serious “separation of powers” issues and violated the county charter.

Despite the challenge to Reardon’s authority, Councilmember Brian Sullivan said, “we feel a hiring freeze is necessary and I applaud the council and I applaud the executive because at [on] this issue we all agree.”

County officials and agencies not subject to the supervisory authority of the county executive include the offices of the assessor, auditor, clerk, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, treasurer, district and superior courts, and the county council. None of these elected officials spoke in opposition to the hiring freeze imposed on them by the council.

“With the revenue projections we’ve been given by the finance department,” said Council Chair Dave Somers, “it is very important that the council take this action now, proactively, in order to lessen the impact at the end of the year.”

The county council will review and produce the county’s 2009-2010 biennial budget beginning in September. Opportunities for public input are planned in Arlington, Snohomish and Edmonds.

The first forum will be held September 3 at the Stillaguamish Senior Center in Arlington, located at 18308 Smokey Point Blvd. The council will then host a meeting at the Willis D. Tucker Community Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive in Snohomish, on September 10, and at the Edmonds City Council Chambers on September 15. All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

According to Somers, “Sales tax and real estate excise tax collections are already down significantly, and we have to be prepared to make tough decisions. That’s why we need to hear what peoples’ priorities are.”

Those unable to attend the public forums can still forward their budget suggestions to the council by e-mail or regular mail. The County Council’s e-mail address is contact.council@co.snohomish.wa.us. Address letters to Snohomish County Council, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S #609, Everett, WA 98201.