Fine-tuning Snohomish County

Snohomish County voters have six charter amendment propositions on their November ballot, and four of them are easy votes, virtual no-brainers. All half-dozen represent a commendable effort to fine-tune government in a growing county.

The list was pared down from 57 proposals put before a citizens' charter-review commission, which voters elect and convene every 10 years. The 15 unpaid commissioners met 22 times around the county over seven months. That is a lot of missed family meals and irritated spouses in the name of making Snohomish County a better place for 671,800 neighbors.

The commission, chaired by Mike Cooper and vice-chaired by Eric Earling and Kim Halvorson, sorted through suggestions and options and used a Web site to float trial balloons and test public opinion. Ideas appeared and disappeared toward a credible conclusion.

First on the list is the easiest vote. Proposition 1 directs creation of an independent panel to set the salaries for the County Council, executive, assessor, auditor, clerk, prosecuting attorney, sheriff and treasurer. This state model takes payday politicking away from the executive and council.

Proposition 5, largely drafted by county Auditor Bob Terwilliger, updates elections and initiative rules to match changes in state law, primarily the earlier primary election date. These are essential, technical fixes to make local elections conform with state law.

A commissioner's irksome experience trying to get the results of a council vote helped inspire Proposition 4. The measure seeks certainty in public access to council agendas, minutes and voting records, and opportunities for public comment during meetings. The particulars of amending rules and operations are left to the council. An unwritten but expressed desire seeks council meeting hours that better fit the schedules of ordinary citizens.

The County Council would have the option of switching to biennial budgeting if Proposition 2 is approved. Creating an annual budget is an all-consuming process that starts again almost as soon as one is finished. Drafting a budget every two years, with supplemental tweaks in between, ought to leave time for administrators and managers to focus on service delivery to the public. Wow, what a bad concept.

Vetoes of county ordinances are a rare thing, in part because it is an all-or-nothing choice. Proposition 3 substitutes a scalpel for a hatchet. The county executive would have the option of slicing a section or sections of an ordinance instead of rejecting the whole thing. The change is promoted for efficiency, subtlety and the notion that it might encourage more negotiations between the executive and legislative branches. This was a close vote for the commission, and I suspect the public also will hesitate and wonder if it skews the balance of power.

Proposition 6 moves the county performance auditor from the non-partisan office of auditor to the purview of the partisan County Council, which would establish the position by ordinance and fill the job for a four-year term. Auditor Bob Terwilliger is supportive because he believes the position has a better chance of being properly funded.

The performance auditor evaluates how the county performs its duties and handles its finances. Audit topics are screened and selected by a citizen panel appointed by the executive and council, and chaired by the auditor. Proposition 6 might be a constructive change, but for voters this is entirely about independence and firewalls from political abuse. I do not think the public will buy this change. Prove me wrong.

Help kids with lives of stormy Mondays:

The eagle flies on Friday, so Saturday, Nov. 4, you can go out and play for a good cause. The nonprofit Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools is hosting a benefit auction at SeaTac Holiday Inn. Dedicated musicians use the blues as the medium to work with troubled students. The intensive program runs several times a year at Echo Glen Children's Center, the state's juvenile-corrections facility at Snoqualmie, Purdy Women's Prison and various alternative high schools. Information on tickets for an evening of silent and live auctions, a festive meal and blues, blues, blues is at gaildforeverblue@yahoo.com

Lance Dickie's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. His e-mail address is ldickie@seattletimes.com