PORT TOWNSEND — Two weeks before Election Day, Jefferson County government continues to educate voters about the importance of a sales tax hike that will support several endangered county programs while adding 3 cents to every $10 purchase.
“We had saved money for a rainy day,” said County Administrator Philip Morley in an address to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
“But it’s been raining for a long time now.”
Morley’s chamber address was the last of his scheduled programs for a variety of groups across the county.
He has given basically the same presentation.
“I’m trying to reach out to as many people as I can to let them know what their choices are,” Morley said.
Morley, who noted that he had started in his county administrator position two years ago this week, said that economic forecasts had indicated that the recession was ending in 2009 but revenue has not met projections.
As a result, the county found it necessary to compensate for a $900,000 shortfall, which is expected to increase to $1.7 million in 2015.
The county approved putting the measure, titled Proposition 1, on the November ballot with the intention of funding a sheriff’s deputy, an animal control center, five community centers and the Jefferson County Fair, among other programs.
If the voters don’t approve the tax increase, these items will go away, Morley said.
“If Prop 1 passes, the programs on this list will have a dedicated perpetual funding,” Morley said.
“If it does not pass, we are already budgeting in the cuts for these positions, which is how we are budgeting right now.”
Without the measure, the already stretched Sheriff’s Office will feel the pinch, “and there may be times in the dead of night that only one deputy is on duty in the entire county,” he said.
Juvenile services would lose one probation officer, who conducts anger management and restorative justice programs.
“This officer helps kids get their lives back on track,” Morley said.
“At a young age, your life can go one of two ways. This is a person who helps them get their lives back on track and keeps them out of the criminal justice system.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
