Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
Title
Motion 26-137, amending compensation rates for Snohomish County’s Board of Equalization
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DEPARTMENT: OFFICE OF HEARINGS ADMINISTRATION
ORIGINATOR: PETER CAMP
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Tom Teigen 3/13/2026
PURPOSE: The Office of Hearings Administration (OHA) proposes an increase of Board of Equalization members’ compensation by $50 - from $100 to $150 per half day and from $150 to $200 per full day of attendance at meetings and training sessions.
BACKGROUND: Board member compensation has not changed since at least the 1990s. An increase will help with recruitment and retention of board members, who must have specialized skills. There will be no fiscal impact for 2026 because OHA will absorb the $7,500 increase in its current budget. Council sets board member compensation by motion. SCC 2.76.030 (2016). The Board of Equalization reviews appeals of assessed valuation of real and personal property, receiving up to 2,000 appeals annually. The Board has five regular members and two alternates. Appeals can be complex and board members must have a background in real estate appraisal, finance, accounting, administrative law, property tax administration, mediation, or land use. Members currently spend 1-2 hours reviewing materials for each hearing, but board members are only compensated for time spent in hearings or training, not for time spent studying, reviewing, or preparing for hearings. Current county board member compensation is 60% of the average board member compensation for King, Pierce, Spokane, and Thurston counties. If board member compensation kept pace with inflation since it was set in the 1990s, board members would now receive $220/half day and $317/full day.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
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EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OBJ, AU |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
|
002-507424-4918 |
$7,500 |
$7,500 |
$45,000 |
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TOTAL |
$7,500 |
$7,500 |
$45,000 |
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REVENUE: FUND, AGY, ORG, REV, SOURCE |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
|
NONE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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TOTAL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES: There will be no fiscal impact for 2026 because OHA will absorb the $7,500 increase in its current budget.
CONTRACT INFORMATION:
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ORIGINAL |
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CONTRACT# |
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AMOUNT |
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AMENDMENT |
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CONTRACT# |
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AMOUNT |
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Contract Period
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ORIGINAL |
START |
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END |
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AMENDMENT |
START |
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END |
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OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW/COMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by Finance (Nathan Kennedy 3/13/2026)