Budget compromise averts county government shutdown

EVERETT — Snohomish County Council members united on Wednesday to pass a compromise version of the 2015 budget, averting the prospect of a government shutdown.

Council members voted 5-0 for an amendment package that added about $232,000 in funding each for the Sheriff’s Office and First Steps, a social services program for young mothers.

The give-and-take also resulted in more money for the county Medical Examiner’s Office, which is undergoing restructuring to address longstanding management problems. That included keeping the morgue’s deputy director, who on Jan. 1 stood to lose his job after a majority of the council abruptly erased his position.

“It’s been a tough process for all of us and I’m glad we’re able to move forward,” Executive John Lovick said after the vote.

The budget passage resolved an impasse between a majority of the council and Lovick’s administration. The council passed a $226 million spending plan before Thanksgiving on a 3-2 vote. Lovick vetoed that budget on Dec. 10, taking issue with several of the council’s cuts.

The council’s action on Wednesday made Lovick’s earlier budget veto moot.

The deal came after county staff members put in a week’s worth of long days to find common ground among elected officials. Neither side got everything it wanted.

“Every one of us has things in this budget that we like and that we don’t like,” council Chairman Dave Somers said.

A 1 percent hike in the county’s general tax levy raised about $820,000 to pay for services the council added Wednesday. The changes addressed concerns in Lovick’s veto letter. The property tax increase passed 4-1, with Republican Councilman Ken Klein opposed. Lovick and the other four council members are Democrats.

The tax hike will add about 20 cents per month to the property tax bills of a house assessed at the countywide average of $244,000.

Disputes over the budget and other issues have split the council into pro- and anti-Lovick factions. Somers earlier sided with Klein and Terry Ryan to form a majority opposition to Lovick’s proposals. Council members Stephanie Wright and Brian Sullivan supported the executive.

In the final budget, the Somers-led majority prevailed with a demand to reserve money raised by some specific property-tax increases to pay off bonds on a future county courthouse. Though all of the bonds aren’t likely to start coming due until 2016, Somers and others are worried about the $162 million project staying on budget.

The council majority also held fast on rolling back raises for a half-dozen managers in Lovick’s administration. They did agree to pay $25,000 to study appropriate salary levels.

The final version of the budget cut an inclusion manager job that’s been vacant in the executive’s office for more than a year; added back $28,000 that the council had cut from the salary of the county’s trade and economic development director, Sean Connell; and revived a budget analyst’s position that the council had removed from the executive’s office.

“I am glad that we could reach a budget compromise that restores funding to public safety, economic development and other vital services,” Wright said.

While the budget passed, it is unclear whether council members and Lovick’s administration will overcome a breakdown in communication that has resulted in testy exchanges recently.

The anti-Lovick bloc on the council agreed earlier this month to spend $15,000 to hire an attorney to investigate comments allegedly made by Lovick’s top administrator, Deputy Executive Mark Ericks. The three councilmen contend that Ericks threatened them and created a hostile environment. Lovick says his own investigation didn’t support the threat claims.

On Friday, Sullivan sent a letter to all of his council colleagues and The Daily Herald criticizing Somers’ leadership.

When voting for the new budget on Wednesday some councilmembers praised Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe for “shuttle diplomacy,” working as a go-between to resolve differences between the sides.

After the budget was adopted Wednesday, Lovick pledged to do his part to improve the atmosphere.

“We’re going to do everything we can from our office to have a good relationship,” Lovick said. “The public expects this from us and the public demands this from us.”

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

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.