2026-10-19 Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee Meeting

The Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee discussed the Police Department’s proposed 2027–28 service levels and budget. The department presented a combined 2027 law-enforcement budget of about $6.846 million, including an estimated $208,000 for body-worn cameras, interview-room coverage, and cloud storage, and roughly $131,000 to restore a third civilian support position. The camera estimate is preliminary; no bid or purchase approval was presented. Officials cited the loss of about $720,000 a year in North Bend cost-sharing and discussed staffing, rising criminal-justice service costs, call volumes, response times, and the workload associated with records and evidence. A dedicated traffic officer was discussed as a possible service enhancement, but the mayor’s proposal did not include funding for one.

Committee members requested more detail on camera costs and staffing impacts, historical police workload and service levels, prosecution outcomes, and increases in court, prosecution, public-defense, and jail expenses. The finance director also outlined a potential 0.1% local-option sales tax for criminal-justice purposes, which would depend on qualifying for a state grant and meeting specified requirements; no decision was made to apply or impose the tax. The committee took no vote on budget allocations or procurements during the discussion.