Councilmember Dave Gossett
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November 26, 2008
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Dave Gossett's eNews
3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609
Everett, Washington 98201
Office: 8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building
Phone: 425-388-3494
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County Council Approves
'Painful' Budget for 2009
Like other jurisdictions, Snohomish County faced painful choices to cut jobs and services this year. A gap of $21 million existed between the general fund revenues available in 2009 and the cost of continuing the service levels of 2008. This situation became much more difficult after the council recently learned that County Executive Aaron Reardon had spent down the county's existing reserves by $6.2 million.
The Council adopted a final general fund budget of $206.6 million on Monday, November 24.
"Seventy-two percent of the general fund supports public safety services," said Councilmember Dave Gossett, "including the sheriff, courts, prosecutor, and corrections. While we worked hard to minimize the impacts, all departments had to take cuts."
The Council budget will be cut by 9%, eliminating 2 positions. Approximately 160 employee positions countywide are being eliminated. Thanks to a hiring freeze implemented by the Council earlier this year the actual number of people losing jobs will be closer to 80, with existing vacancies making up the rest. | |
"The general fund was balanced primarily with spending reductions, not tax increases," noted Gossett. "There will be no increase in the general fund property tax in 2009."
The county's combined general and non-general fund budget for 2009 is $815.4 million, compared to the adopted 2008 budget of $883.5 million -- a reduction of approximately $68 million, or about 7.7 percent. The non-general fund budget includes departments such as roads, solid waste, surface water management, and the airport.
"We worked closely with the roads department to find ways to provide better transportation solutions," said Gossett. "We found a way to use the existing fund balance to build several projects sooner. And by building them sooner we will save the taxpayers money as well."
The Council included a plan in the budget to continue to work with the roads department on ways to speed up and enhance transportation projects in 2009.
The Council conducted a transparent, public process in preparing its budget. Over 37 hours of open public meetings and hearings were dedicated solely to discussing and receiving input regarding the budget. One hundred and nineteen people attended these meetings with another 703 submitting written comments, with 166 of those comments coming from county employees.
"By working closely with the independent county elected officials and county employees," said Gossett, "we received many creative ideas to preserve front-line services and reduce layoffs."
Some budget highlights include:
- Continues the successful Drug Court Program
- Identifies new efficiencies in the criminal justice system that are anticipated to result in increased revenue from the county jail while simultaneously reducing expenses
- Maintains support for Senior Centers and Family Support Centers
- Increases support of the Health District
- Funds newly hired deputies
- Provides recreational programs for children with special needs
- Continues support for Project Self Sufficiency
- Funds the development of a county-wide farm preservation program
- Accelerates design and construction of critical road projects
- Restores the inmate labor program
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Cuts to Public Health Reduced
by New County Funding
Earlier this summer Snohomish Health District Director Dr. Goldbaum proposed massive cuts in public health services. He indicated that the district faced a $4.4 million shortfall and proposed eliminating 35 FTEs (full time equivalent employees) in November with another 50 FTEs laid off on January 1, 2009.
The good news is while cuts are still necessary they will be much smaller.
"It's a tough budget year, and unfortunately cuts in service must be made," said County Councilmember Dave Gossett. "But by hard work we've been able to reduce them to a fraction of what Dr. Goldbaum and the Health District Administration first proposed."
A total of 24 FTEs are now identified for elimination in 2009, less than a third of the cuts originally proposed. Due to existing vacancies, only 17 employees will actually be laid off. The result is key services will be retained.
"The Administration's proposal was to end the First Steps program, eliminating 4,200 home visits to vulnerable families and children," said Gossett. "I and the rest of the Board said "No" and kept those services for our citizens."
The Health Board is made up of the five County Councilmembers and 10 representatives of Snohomish County cities. It established an ad hoc committee to review the budget and find better solutions than the wholesale cuts proposed by the administration. Councilmember Gossett sat on the ad hoc committee.
"The Board insisted on cutting front line services last instead of first," said Gossett. "We cut supplies and capital, reduced administration, and used reserves before looking at direct services. In addition, the county increased its funding over last year by nearly $370,000."
The proposed budget, while balanced for 2009, may face additional problems in 2010 if the economy does not improve. The final budget hearing on the Health District Budget is December 9th at 3:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Health District Building, 3020 Rucker Avenue, Everett. |
| More funding for mental health and
chemical dependency treatment proposed
The Legislature several years ago gave counties the authority to approve a 0.1% sales tax to be used for mental health and chemical (drug and alcohol) dependency treatment. The Snohomish County Blue Ribbon Commission on Criminal Justice Priorities recommended earlier this year that the county adopt the tax to expand programs.
"We have found that up to 75% of those booked into our jail have drugs or alcohol in their systems," said Councilmember Gossett. "We can make our community safer if we can reduce drug and alcohol dependency."
Snohomish County jail records also show that over 20% of all bookings into the jail have a history of mental illness. Not only would these persons be better served in a true treatment facility, but also the jail beds would then be available to be sold to other jurisdictions, saving County taxpayers money.
"Working with the community we have come up with a strong plan to address mental illness and chemical dependency," said Gossett. "It will include performance measures that will allow us to know what works and what doesn't. And if it doesn't work, the funds will shift to what does."
The public hearing on this proposal is scheduled for December 3, 2008, at 10:30 am in the Drewel Building on the 8th floor. Skagit, Island, King, and Whatcom counties have already adopted similar proposals. | |
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I hope you found this eNEWSLETTER informative and useful. You can make it even more valuable by suggesting topics and issues for future newsletters. Please contact me at 425-388-3494, or e-mail Dave.Gossett@snoco.org. If you would like to share this newsletter, select the Forward email link below. Sincerely,
Dave Gossett
Snohomish County Council |
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