Proposed Snohomish County budget recommends employee layoffs

By Emily Heffter
Times Snohomish County bureau

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The Snohomish County Council will consider the recommendation and pass a budget by the end of the year.

Reardon recommended no tax increase and staffing reductions in 14 of the county government's 21 departments. He said the drastic approach was necessary to bridge a $13.4 million funding shortfall and open a new, larger jail. The $173.7 million general-fund budget recommendation includes 70 new positions in the county's Corrections Department to staff the new jail.

Reardon's budget also recommended a $5 per ton increase in garbage-tipping fees, which will amount to about a 40-cent increase every month for county residents' garbage bills.

The 2005 budget recommendation marks the first time law-and-justice expenditures will use more than 70 percent of the money in the county's general fund. Reardon said that was disappointing, but necessary because voters twice rejected a tax increase to pay for the new jail.

Reardon gave his budget address to the Snohomish County Council, public and county employees and officials this morning in the new county courtyard in front of the county Administration Building.

Emily Heffter: 425-783-0624 or eheffter@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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