PORT TOWNSEND — As the economy puts the squeeze on government, it is up to the citizenry to take up the slack in order to provide essential services, the Jefferson County administrator says.
“These are tough times for everyone — for families, for business and for government in Port Townsend, throughout Jefferson County, Washington state and our nation,” said Philip Morley in an address to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
“But there are opportunities, too, and it is up to us to create our own future through our individual choices and collective actions.”
Services
Morley, who addressed the chamber one year ago about a similar topic, has presided over the budget process that has forced the county to cut back some services and find alternative financing sources for others.
One such measure is the “adopt-a-parks” program, in which citizens take responsibility for the maintenance and operation of specific public parks.
He also managed the county’s sponsorship of Proposition 1, a voter-approved measure last November that will generate funds for specific programs with a 0.3 percent sales tax increase.
Morley hopes that programs such as animal services can be privatized and not depend upon government subsidies.
All this is necessary because state and federal governments are not supporting the programs they once did.
“The safety net provided by the state is unraveling,” he said.
“What the state has paid for the past, they are handing off to local government, which doesn’t have the ability to support those programs.“
As state and local governments have less ability to support programs, federal sources are not providing any help.
“The federal government is now facing mounting debt and a new majority in the House of Representatives that is bent on reducing federal expenditures,” Morley said.
“State and federal governments are preoccupied with their own problems, and it is unlikely that we’ll see any new major bailouts for small rural communities like Jefferson County — which is why it’s up to us.”
Morley said one of the most important new programs is the installation of broadband Internet service to anchor institutions by the end of the year.
Having Internet service in rural Jefferson County that rivals that in downtown Seattle with regard to speed and bandwidth will open up business opportunities and revitalize the economy, Morley said.
“This is the new railroad, it’s the new interstate highway,” he said.
“It is a piece of local infrastructure that will allow us to participate in large economic markets without compromising our special community character.”
While Port Townsend plays a large part in local development, Morley said much of the economic future will develop out of small communities such as Quilcene, Brinnon and Port Hadlock, which will see tremendous growth once a sewer system is installed .
“Since Washington state has already approved the Port Hadlock/Tri-Area as an urban growth area, a wastewater system is the last major step to turn on economic development within the county’s first new UGA,” Morley said.
“Much of the story is about the community coming together for itself.” Morley said.
“Government has a part to play, for sure, but only one part”.
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
