PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County commissioners, holding a daylong brainstorming retreat Friday, contemplated how they will balance the county budget if a statewide initiative to cut property taxes by 25 percent passes this fall.
“The cuts will be $1.4 million worth of bodies,” Administrator David Goldsmith told the commissioners as they discussed budget issues.
Goldsmith predicted that 21 positions would have to be eliminated in the 2005 budget if the initiative proposed by tax rebel Tim Eyman passes in the November general election and survives probable court challenges.
Goldsmith said the county has no reserve money in its general fund to absorb the loss of revenue in property taxes in the wake of Initiative 864, for which Eyman’s supporters are collecting voter signatures statewide.
A second Eyman initiative would reduce state property tax revenues by $400 million annually.
“We’ll have to look at mandated and essential services first and put everything else off to the side,” said Commissioner Pat Rodgers, R-Brinnon.
Goldsmith suggested building a backup plan in case the initiative passes and is validated in court.
