Councilmember Nehring's November Newsletter

I hope you all had a great October and enjoyed a safe Halloween yesterday. In this month’s newsletter, I will be highlighting the 2021 proposed budget and sharing some of the details of the Council’s proposed amendment to the budget.  

Budget Process 

State law requires the County Executive to propose a recommended budget to the County Council for the upcoming year. Last month, the County Council received Executive Somers’ recommended 2021 budget. From there, we began working with staff to analyze the recommended budget, identify areas of question or concern, and draft potential amendments to the budget.  

Revenue 

The County’s budget is broken into six fund categories. The category which receives the most attention during the annual budget process is the County’s General Fund. The General Fund houses most of the County’s general operating expenditures and is funded mostly by property taxes, sales taxes, and charges for service.  

As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the economy both locally and nationally. As a result, sales tax revenues have seen a sharp decline compared to what was anticipated for 2020.  

Under state law, Counties are able to increase their general property tax levy by up to 1% each year. As the budget currently stands, Snohomish County will not be taking the 1% increase. This move represents an understanding by County elected officials that many families and businesses are struggling and it is only appropriate that government tightens its belt as well. If there are no changes, this will be the 4th consecutive county budget with no increases to the general property tax levy.   

Expenditures 

Our 2021 budget continues to prioritize public safety for our communities. One of the amendments allocates funding for a vacant patrol deputy position within the Sheriff’s Office with revenues from the Roads Fund. This additional deputy will join the current traffic enforcement team to increase the presence of law enforcement in unincorporated areas and increase public safety.  

By reducing positions elsewhere in the budget, we were also able to propose funding for an additional designated crisis responder within the Human Services budget. These employees help respond to individuals suffering from substance abuse and mental and behavioral health issues. They help de-escalate situations and identify services to connect these individuals with the resources they need. We have been able to support needed investments in human services without cuts to law enforcement, contrary to the narrative espoused by the extremist calls to defund or abolish the police. We do not have to choose between law enforcement and social services. These are not mutually exclusive and both can be prioritized to address public safety and the wellbeing of our communities.  

We are also shifting funding to fill a vacant Code Enforcement Officer position in the Planning and Development Services budget. One of the most common calls I receive from constituents is regarding nuisance properties, which often involve drug issues, squatters, and excessive trash. These properties can cause significant issues in neighborhoods and can lead to public health concerns and increased crime. This additional Code Enforcement Officer will help the team address violations and focus more attention on getting these chronic nuisance properties cleaned up.  

The budget amendments include a number of cuts to trim discretionary spending in departments and offices across the County. This includes funding allocated for training, travel, and contingencies. While families and businesses across the County are tightening their belts due to financial uncertainty, we feel it is appropriate to limit county government’s discretionary spending as well.

The proposed budget and amendments offer an overall balanced budget with no increase to the county’s general tax levy and a net reduction in general fund spending. This budget prioritizes public safety and fiscal restraint, and I believe it is a plan that our community can be proud of.  

Our anticipated budget adoption date is Tuesday, November 10th at 10:30am. If you are interested in learning more about the budget or have feedback you would like to share, please do not hesitate in reaching out to me at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.