Corrected: News from County Executive Dave Somers: November 2018

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News from the County Executive

November 2018


PAE

BREAKING NEWS! Both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are now selling tickets out of Paine Field's new passenger terminal! With 24 daily flights to destinations across the Western US, Snohomish County's Paine Field Airport (PAE) is even more connected to the world.


How to Lead:

Snohomish County's 2019 Budget 

DS and SW 2

Executive Somers Delivers Budget Address for 2019

On Monday, November 19, the Snohomish County Council unanimously approved the county’s budget for 2019, prioritizing public safety, housing affordability, economic development, and fiscal responsibility. I will sign the budget later this month when the final documents have been transmitted to my office. The total General Fund budget is $263,647,945. The total of all budgets—including General Fund, Roads Fund, and enterprise funds—is approximately $983 million.

This year we had unprecedented collaboration with the County Council, allowing us to work on a "no surprises" fiscal roadmap for the year. This budget achieved our major goals of continuing to prioritize: public safety, my STEP Initiative for operational excellence, a fiscally responsible budget, and improving our service to the public. 

“I am proud of the budget we approved today, because we were able to focus on issues that matter to our residents, while spending our resources carefully.  We were able to address public safety issues, economic development, affordable housing options, and combat homelessness,” said Council Chair Stephanie Wright. “I appreciate the hard work and passion of my council colleagues and the unprecedented collaboration with the Executive. Council continued to work closely with the Executive after he delivered his proposed budget, resulting in additional opportunities to invest in important priorities such as adding new deputies and establishing a gang unit within the Sheriff’s Office.  By working together this year, we increased transparency to the process and produced a better final budget.”

“I look forward to signing the budget as quickly as possible. We delivered on our highest priorities: public safety, creating jobs, providing more affordable housing, and getting the county’s finances on stable footing,” said Dave Somers, Snohomish County Executive. “I want to thank the County Council and countless county employees who all came together as a team. We want to build on this success and continue delivering exceptional service for our residents.”

“I am proud to champion a budget that invests in our key responsibilities and keeps our neighborhoods safe,” said Terry Ryan, Snohomish County Council Vice Chair.  “Our budget continues our efforts to stabilize the County’s finances while increasing Public Safety and investing in our infrastructure.”

“It was critical that we include the revenue stabilization fund and other key elements of our fiscal health,” said Brian Sullivan, Snohomish County Councilmember. “If we want to continue making progress on public safety, human services, and our other key priorities, the finances of the county must be kept on a solid foundation.”

“I am very excited that this budget targets key transportation needs as well as ensures the county is ready for the start of commercial service next year,” said Sam Low, Snohomish County Councilmember. “Our commuters need us to think creatively about resolving the most pressing transportation needs in the county, and this budget is a good start.”

“Our partnership in developing the budget was a good model for moving the county forward,” said Nate Nehring, Snohomish County Councilmember. “To invest in our key priorities while avoiding a General Fund tax increase is the surest sign that we are providing what the public expects and needs.”

The approved 2019 budget has a number of important programs, including:

 

Public Safety:

  • A continuing focus on public safety, including five new Deputies, two dedicated to a new Gang Task Force.
  • A new program to embed a detective in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to focus on Domestic Violence cases.
  • $2 million for the start of work on a new South Precinct building for the SCSO.
  • Improve technology for Deputies in the SCSO.
  • Helping the Office of Pubic Defense to ensure our justice system is fair for all by increasing funding for certain public safety costs.
  • The budget continues the county’s innovative approach to the opioid epidemic.

Neighbors in Need:

  • The county has directed an additional $300,000 toward affordable housing for the homeless, a key area for reducing suffering and improving public safety. We have also carried forward an additional $1 million from the 2018 budget for efforts to address homelessness.
  • In order to help our neediest residents—including seniors, veterans, at-risk youth, and others—the budget provides additional capacity for the Department of Human Services to manage more grant dollars from external funding agencies.

Fiscal Responsibility:

  • The budget provides an additional $2.3 million towards stabilizing the county’s risk management fund. This ensures the county can easily handle any unexpected costs next year.
  • In 2019, the county moves closer to the targeted fund balance of 14%, providing capacity should the economy turn.
  • Invests $1.68 million in the Revenue Stabilization fund to help minimize revenue shortfalls during economic downturns.

Making the County Work:

  • The budget ensures our technology continues to provide the necessary services to the public and tools for county staff.
  • We will continue with our STEP Initiative to improve our operations and give our employees the tools they need to succeed.

Transportation:

  • $134.9 million investment in county roads.
  • Seed money of $1.5 million for SR-2, SR-522, and other key transportation projects to address congestion.

Economic Development:

  • The budget continues the county’s focus on diversifying our economy, improving our attractiveness for foreign investors, and targeting economic development opportunities – including the Boeing NMA.

Snohomish County’s 2019 General Fund budget does not raise the county’s general fund tax levy amount and prepares for the inevitable downturn in the economy.  Next year will have a number of major milestones for Snohomish County, including the expected start of commercial air service from Paine Field, Boeing’s management of the Future of Flight Aviation Center, and progress on the courthouse project. The 2019 budget allows all of these important projects to continue


Dave Sommers

Dave Somers
County Executive

3000 Rockefeller Ave., 

M/S 407 
Everett, WA 98201

425-388-3050

County.Executive@snoco.org

www.snohomishcountywa.gov

Public Advocate

425-388-3365

dave somers
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