Revenues up; residents may see tiny cut in property taxes

Snohomish County residents may enjoy a modest 1 percent cut in the 2008 property-tax levy thanks to an expected increase in sales-tax revenues.

County Executive Aaron Reardon proposed the cut, worth about $700,000, during his budget address Friday for the 2008 fiscal year beginning Jan. 1. For a $300,000 property, the savings would be less than $3.

Under new state laws governing how sales-tax money is distributed, Snohomish County expects an additional $3.5 million next year, with that amount doubling in 2009. Because most municipalities and taxing structures within the county have continuously raised their levy rates, Reardon said the time had come to offer some, albeit minor, relief to citizens.

"Just because we can raise the taxes doesn't mean we should," he said.

With next year's increased revenues, the county's general-fund budget will approach $212 million under Reardon's proposal, about $9 million more than the current budget for 2007. About 71 percent of the general fund budget is for public safety — similar to this year.

The county's consolidated budget — which includes grants, fees and pass-through money — would be about $673 million if approved by the County Council.

Despite a national economic downturn, the county continues to post positive numbers, and Reardon said no cuts to services are expected next year. Instead, Reardon proposed new positions that would bring staff to more than 3,000 employees.

Among those increases:

• A number of new public-safety positions costing about $500,000. Reardon wants to hire four new District Court clerks, two deputy prosecuting attorneys to handle DUI and domestic-violence cases, and retain a newly hired drug-court coordinator. A cadet program also would be created within the sheriff's office, where four part-time employees would be hired to handle nonemergency calls, freeing up deputies to do more criminal investigations.

• A new emergency operations center. While proposed for some time, the county would begin the engineering and building design process at a cost of $1.1 million next year.

• Homelessness initiatives. An additional $1.5 million would be spent to put the county's 10-year plan to end homelessness into effect.

• A graffiti-removal crew. Two employees would be responsible for cleaning up graffiti throughout the county, including cities, at a cost of $170,000. However, the county would be reimbursed for city cleanups.

Councilman John Koster, who has supported a tax cut for years, says he's unsure whether it will pass.

"I've tried for five years now and never had the support," he said. "But then with sales-tax streamlining, it's now possible."

The County Council is expected to add funding for some other items as well as a review of how to use some fund-balance money. The fund balance now stands at more than $32 million, or about 16 percent of the general-fund budget. The council will take a final vote on the budget later this year.

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-745-7813 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com