PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County commissioners Monday approved a 2011 budget to end a long, winding fiscal path fraught with shortages, cutbacks and reallocations — and a final reprieve in a sales tax increase that will pay for threatened programs.
The recommended budget adds up to $52,752,238, which is made up of $15,636,049 for the general fund and the remaining $37,116,189 in other funds.
The general fund supports the criminal justice system, central government functions and community services.
While the county is still subject to vagaries of projections and whims of cutbacks by the state Legislature in 2011, the county budget has closed a $1.1 million gap between revenues and expenditures and saved several programs from the ax.
These cuts were accomplished in four ways: program cuts, labor freezes, the general fund itself and revenue from voter-approved Proposition 1, which raised sales tax 0.3 percent and promises support for several specific law enforcement and community programs.
Even so, the budget process will begin again, and the programs that survived this round of cuts may again be threatened.
County Administrator Philip Morley said the county has learned from this rough year.
“After the first of the year, we will begin a county visioning process where we can determine how we can better deliver essential services,” he said.
“This will determine our strategy through 2015.”
All government budgets are based on projections, with real amounts coming in dramatically lower than expected, but Morley said the county took a “conservative” direction with this year’s projections.
“Property taxes are pretty stable,” he said, “but we projected lower levels of sales tax for next year than in 2010.”
In July, the commissioners determined the need to go to the public for additional funds, either with a property tax levy lift or a sales tax increase, either of which needing voter approval.
Morley said the decision to go the sales tax route was a key decision that paid off, even though passing any tax increase in the current economy was never a sure thing.
County Commissioner David Sullivan, D-Cape George, said he was pleased that the measure passed because it showed a level of trust on the part of the public to administer the programs responsibly.
Sullivan said this year’s budget required a greater degree of collaboration among commissioners and department heads, which he expected to continue.
He said he also expects volunteering to increase, taking on more of the functions traditionally assumed by county government.
“We will see a lot more public-private partnerships,” he said.
“The adopt-a-park program is a good example, and the Sheriff’s Office relies on a lot of volunteers.”
Sullivan said Jefferson County’s high percentage of retirees provides a diverse volunteer pool.
“There are a lot of highly educated people here who are looking to contribute,” he said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
