By Leslie Kelly
A modest 1 percent increase in the total amount of property taxes levied is being proposed for San Juan County property owners for 2016.
County Manager Mike Thomas said last week that the proposed 2016 budget is based on a conservative forecast of a 3 percent growth in sales tax, and a 2 percent growth in property tax. That includes the 1 percent increase in existing property allowed by state law, and the value of new construction added to the tax rolls.
“Our goal is to continue to provide current services at existing levels,” Thomas said. “The county does not have sufficient funding to add much in the way of news staff or new programming.”
According to John Kulseth, San Juan county assessor, for the owner of a home in the town of Friday Harbor with an assessed value of $350,000, if the assessed values in that area remained the same, (which is unlikely,) that person’s property taxes would increase $25. Hence, increases are expected to be less.
The first public hearing on the budget was Nov. 10. Four more public hearings left on the calendar as San Juan County Council members continue to review the 2016 county budget as proposed by Thomas and Milene Henley, county auditor.
The $17.43 million budget was introduced to the council on Oct. 19. While it’s being called a “status quo” budget, it represents a 4.3 percent increase from the current year budget.
In order to have a balanced operating budget for 2016, the county plans to use $656,000 of its available cash and reserve funds.
The council met Nov. 2 during which members briefly spoke about the budget and heard a presentation by Kim Herrenkohl, deputy auditor, who detailed the county’s 2016 capital budget and six-year Capital Improvement Plan. The council also heard in detail about the 2016 parks and fair budget and fees schedules from Dona Wuthnow, parks and fair director.
Among the projects being proposed in the 2016 capital budget is $120,000 for the planning of the Centralized County Campus Plan. There’s $400,000 allotted for fleet replacement which is the local share of the road transportation improvement plan. More than $2.4 million is proposed for Orcas road improvements. There’s $360,000 proposed for the Orcas Village park and ride, and within the capital expenditures is the purchased of a patrol car and a truck for the parks department, each at $70,000.
The 2016 Capital Improvement Plan includes a list of projects recommended by the capital committee to be funded with capital improvement funds.
Parks Director Dona Wuthnow presented a fee schedule to council members that outlines increased fees based on park location and season of renting. On average, campsites are proposed to increase about $2 per night. (For an entire list of proposed fees go to www.sanjuanco.com/council/video.aspx.)
Included in the proposed budget is an increase of 2.5 FTE positions. Thomas said personnel and payroll continue to be the largest cost to the county, although cost-cutting measures have reduced staff by 10 percent since 2008. Positions being considered include an additional mechanic, a storm water engineer (already budgeted, but not filled) increased hours in the land bank field assistant positions, an increase in the facilities maintenance hours, and changes in the duties of the emergency management assistant director which will provide more administrative hours to the 9-1-1 center.
Bob Jarman, chairman of the council said he looks forward to hearing more public comments on the budget at the coming hearings.
“The 2016 budget can be characterized as a ‘status quo’ budget,” he said. “It provides for the continuation of existing services at current levels within the financial means provided by the taxpayers of the county. The budget supports the implementation of new technologies and processes that are key to obtaining operational efficiencies that should equate to a reduction in the annual cost of doing business. It also provides for fair wages and benefits for represented and non-represented employees.
“There are some minor tweaks that need to be done over the next couple of weeks, but all in all it is a budget that is responsive to the needs of our citizens.”
District 2 Councilman Rick Hughes said he didn’t expect to see much controversy over the budget and hopes it can be passed on Dec. 1
“It’s really just status quo,” he said. “We’re all pretty much on board with the budget as it is. We’re maintaining the same levels of county services without increasing taxes.”
Some of the items in the budget that remain important to Hughes are a dedicated marine facilities fund, and an additional emergency dispatcher.
“Because we are islands, it’s important to have a dedicated marine fund. It’s something that needs to be done.”
Hughes also said he supports an additional dispatcher in the county’s 9-1-1 center. While it isn’t part of the budget being proposed, it was among the “add-ons” yet to be decided. San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs has requested funding for another dispatcher.
“There are times at night when there’s only one dispatcher on duty – times when the dispatched is on a call and another call comes in,” said Hughes.
Adding another dispatcher to the county’s personnel will eliminate that, he added.
District 3 Councilman Jamie Stephens said having a status quo budget was important.
“We are pleased that our department heads submitted status quo budgets which means we will be able to continue to deliver the current level of services and begin construction on some exciting public works projects,” Stephens said. “Creating a balanced budget is always a challenge in light of the structural imbalance created by the State Legislature where expenses rise faster than the ability of counties to raise revenue.”
Public hearings are set for Nov. 23 and 24 and 30 and Dec. 1. All meetings are at 9:15 a.m. in the council hearing room 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, except the Dec. 1 meeting which is in the Lopez Center for Community and Arts, 204 Village Road, Lopez Island.
Final action on the budget is expected Dec. 1. To view the entire budget go to www.sanjuanco.com/Auditor/docs/Budget_Reports/2016_Preliminary_Budget_Book.pdf.
