EVERETT — When County Executive Dave Somers released his $1.6 billion county budget for 2024, he had to balance priorities.
“Out of necessity, Snohomish County has done more with less than any other major county in the state,” Somers said before an audience of more than 100 county staff last week.
Somers, in his speech, emphasized the county must adapt, and said this budget “captures our priorities,” including serving the community equitably, improving public safety and growing wisely.
To address housing, the county is introducing a capital investment plan with a goal to “create 550 new units of affordable housing, 150 units of emergency bridge and permanent supportive housing, and expand our behavioral health facilities and services” by 2029.
One way could be the county partnering with agencies to create affordable housing, Somers said.
Inside the county jail, the county will study how to enlarge its medically assisted treatment (MAT) detox and recovery program to treat drug-addicted people who are incarcerated.
How many additional beds is not yet known, county officials said.
Somers told the Tribune the $250,000 study for the MAT initiative is budgeted at the county level and won’t increase city jail fees.
Investing in recovery programs now will help prevent costlier, future recidivism or hospitalizations. “It’s ‘pay me now or pay me later’,” Somers quoted.
Elsewhere, he’s also increased wages at the sheriff’s office to aid recruitment and retention.
A dashboard on law and justice is also being developed to give the public better transparency.
“We must know who the law and justice system impacts and where inequity lies,” Somers said in his speech.
Somers called attention to how the county is partnered on efforts to develop next-generation sustainable aviation fuel, which airlines have clamored for. The research and development center is at Paine Field.
The airport brings in $60 million annually today. There’s a master plan to double passenger traffic over the next 20 years; it could get regulatory approval next year.
Somers’ budget also continues removing fish culverts, proposes having the county health department start offering public vaccination and clinical services as well as continues funding homelessness outreach.
“A big win is we didn’t have to make any cuts,” Somers told a reporter.
Get involved
The County Council will host a Community Budget Forum on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. It is also scheduled to hold budget hearings on Oct. 24 at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m. All three will be held both in-person at the 8th floor of the county administration building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett and also on Zoom. You can find the Zoom links for the meetings on the County Council’s meeting webpage.
