PORT ANGELES – The state’s projected budget shortfall of more than $12 billion over the next four years continues to dominate the conversation about the legislative session, even at the local level.
“The mood of Olympia is relatively pessimistic with regard to funding and budget-related issues,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said during the county work session on Monday.
In the 24th Legislative District alone, which covers Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties, capital requests have amounted to somewhere between $25 million to $30 million, Ozias said.
The Legislature will only be able to fulfill a small percentage of those requests, he added.
“My expectation for most, if not all, of those capital requests is to think small and keep your fingers crossed,” he said.
Ozias also outlined a few policies that are being worked on that could have local impacts. One of them is the development of a road usage charge as an alternative to a state gas tax, which is being introduced by state Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, according to The Seattle Times.
Transportation funding at the state level is facing a billion-dollar budget shortfall, The Seattle Times reported. At the local level, despite comprising between 30 to 35 percent of the roads across the state, Ozias said local county roads have no dedicated source of funding.
House Bill (HB) 1098 proposes establishing a new grant program for the preservation of these roads.
“It would be really helpful to have even a competitive program like this,” Ozias said.
Another local funding increase is being introduced by HB 1592, which would designate the state to pay for half of the cost of public defense services based on a five-year average of that county’s public defense expenses, as well as any costs that exceed the five-year average.
“There appears to be relatively broad support [for this bill], but it is up against the budget constraints,” Ozias said.
This bill could become even more relevant if the state Supreme Court decides to decrease public defender caseload capacity, which would increase Clallam County’s public defense costs by over 100 percent by 2028, while Jefferson County’s would increase by more than 150 percent, according to prior reporting.
A similar bill, SB 4505, is working its way through the Senate.
The Legislature is also considering HB 1113, which would authorize courts to dismiss a defendant’s misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, with certain exceptions, upon the defendant’s substantial compliance with court-ordered conditions.
“The pathway for this legislation is uncertain as well, but I will continue to track it, as it will certainly have some relevance to us,” Ozias said.
In the affordable housing arena, SB 5587 would, among other things, require a biennial analysis of estimated existing housing units and needs for municipalities, as well as county progress in meeting those needs.
“This one could have significant implications for counties,” Ozias said.
County commissioners typically provide a legislative update for relevant bills every other work session.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
