Opportunities for Progress!
As I wrap up my second year as Executive, I wanted to thank
you for all of your support. I have committed myself to building the best
possible team, using all of our regional tools to benefit all of our residents, and staying focused
on the key policies that will make Snohomish County the best place to live,
work, and play.
As we start 2018, I want to make sure we are working on
those issues most important to the residents of Snohomish County.
Agenda for 2018
Opioid Epidemic
The opioid crisis has impacted every community across the
region and caused significant suffering and loss of life. As a result, in November I partially
activated our emergency management system to address the epidemic. As far as we
know, this approach to managing the crisis has not been tried before. It gives
us one place for the coordination of policy and for ensuring we are using
resources as wisely as possible. It has the benefit of bringing together local
and regional partners, including the Sheriff’s Office, cities, and fire
districts. It also allows us to set regional goals that everyone can work
toward. We have already seen some successes and will continue to push this
high-priority issue. Too many families are suffering, either directly from
addiction or from some of the negative impacts from addicts. We will continue
to work for a healthy and safer community.
Fiscal Responsibility and Government Reform
One of my main motivations for becoming Executive was to restore fiscal responsibility to county government. We don’t have an endless supply of money and need to be very cautious about our spending.
We have worked hard over the last year to tighten spending, find efficiencies, and also explore ways where we can do more with less. Our focus on reform and continuous improvement continued through 2017, and we plan for even more departments to take on reform efforts in 2018. To date, we have seen the greatest progress in our Planning and Development Services Department, where process improvements are speeding permitting decisions. We know that by empowering employees to solve problems and find efficiencies we can have a significant impact on customer service and the bottom line.
Public Safety
Public safety has been and will remain the top priority for
Snohomish County. Over 76% of our general fund budget goes towards law and
justice agencies, with law enforcement and corrections being the largest
portion. We were able to maintain our commitment to public safety in the 2018
budget and add a few more deputies. There is no doubt that we have seen
county-wide impacts on public safety from the opioid epidemic, and we will
continue to find innovative ways not only to address the many challenges our
communities face but also to keep our residents and visitors safe.
Courthouse Renovation
In 2017, we were able to finally get the courthouse project
back on track. We decided to renovate the courthouse, adding a new wing, to
make sure it is both safer and better able to handle the demands of the next
fifty years. By renovating the courthouse, instead of building an entirely new
building, we will save the taxpayers somewhere in the range of $80 million. We
will also have a much better building for our law and justice agencies and the
members of the public who use it. We will break ground on the project this year.
Paine Field Commercial Terminal
I am very proud of the thoughtful work we’ve done to prepare
for commercial service at Paine Field. It will be a tremendous advantage to our
business and residents who want to avoid the long drive to Sea-Tac. I love
Sea-Tac airport but getting there and home can be a hassle. Someone living in
Snohomish County can start their trip to almost anywhere in the world from
Paine Field and vice versa. We have heard loud and clear that airport neighbors
want to keep any noise to a minimum. With about two dozen flights a day—out of
an airport with over 300 take offs and landings every day—we think the impact
will be minimal. And the benefits immense. As we work to attract businesses to
Snohomish County, Paine Field will continue to grow as an asset. This week’s
announcement by Alaska Airlines of their eight destinations—Portland, Phoenix,
Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Jose, Las Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego—means
that residents across Puget Sound will have a great option for their air travel
for work or pleasure.
Have a safe, productive, and wonderful 2018!
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