Tentative Agreement

During a public meeting Monday, Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon
announced a tentative agreement with the countys largest union, which should avoid the
need for General Fund employee layoffs in 2009.

Under the tentative agreement, members of the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME) would agree to a combination of furlough days and
shorter work weeks, equal to about a 4 percent reduction in pay based on the calendar
year.

Management-exempt and non-union-represented employees would take the same
reduction through 11 furlough days.

In a separate ordinance proposal, Reardon has asked the County Council to further
expand the countys hiring freeze for all General Fund programs, programs that receive
more than 20 percent of their revenues from the General Fund and programs funded by
Community Development Fund 193.

Together, the reductions and hiring freeze should eliminate an estimated $6.75 million
adjustment needed in the County Council-approved budget passed in November 2008.
Based on conservative estimates, these reductions and savings are anticipated to avoid the
need for further cuts during 2009.

"We have set a reduction target that we believe is a realistic assessment of our expected
revenue declines for the year," Reardon said. "The goal is to do this once."
The agreement would begin April 16 if approved by union membership and the
Snohomish County Council.

Reardon shared news of the agreement Monday with Council Chairman Mike Cooper,
who has said hes eager to settle the budget issue. "I'm glad that we have a proposal before us for discussion," Cooper said. "We agree that a combination of furloughs and reductions is key to balancing the budget shortfall before us."

The full Council will consider both ordinances beginning Tuesday, March 24.
Reardon also met last week to discuss potential solutions with the countys elected
officials. Each has expressed support for the plan announced Monday to balance the
countys 2009 budget. There are about 2,900 county employees overall and about 1,750 who are AFSCME members. Another 235 are management-exempt or non-represented.