ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF MEETING

SPECIAL SESSION – JULY 10, 2002

 

The  Board of Island County Commissioners met in a Special Session on  July 10, 2002 at 11:00 a.m.  to meet with the Budget Director, Elaine Marlow, a  follow-on to the July 8, 2002 budget workshop.  The purpose was to  review   revenue  and expenditure projections for 2003, and  budget reduction proposals for Current Expense.   The meeting was held in the  Island County Courthouse Annex, Basement Hearing Room, Coupeville, Wa. Commissioners Shelton, McDowell and Thorn were present, along with a number of  Elected Officials and Appointed Department Heads.  One member of the public was present,  Bill Byrd.  The Commissioners originally planned to  recess for lunch and resume the budget  workshop after lunch, but completed today’s considerations  at 12:05 p.m.

 

Building Fee Increases – Presentation

 

Hand-Out:                   7/10/02 Building  Fee Increases Memo with Revenue Fee  Worksheet

Presentation by:         Phil Bakke, Planning & Community Development Director

 

As directed by the Board at a previous  budget workshop,  Mr. Bakke presented  three options to consider in raising  building permit fees sufficient to  cover the cost of added functions to the Department,, i.e.  the Hydrogeologist Program and a portion of one Deputy Prosecuting  Attorney S/W/B.  The revenue fee worksheet  used actual year-to-date revenues to calculate the possible effect of a 10%, 15% and 20% increase on 32111 building and other permits:

 

10% = $114,122.81                 15% = $171,184.21                 $20% = 228,245.09

 

The hand-out included comparisons  with  the Cities of Oak Harbor and Langley. 

 

In considering which option to choose, the added functions to the Department represent $145,000, but also to be factored in are  other costs such as vehicle &  equipment replacement, and costs associated with  GMA 5-year review, and SMA/ESA shoreline update.   Of a $74,000 GMA grant,  $46,000 is left  and that would be another off-setting item for 2003 budget.

 

Current Expense Review/Update-Revenue &  Expenditure Projections &  Budget Reduction Proposals

 

Ms. Marlow brought the Board up to date on  some of the revised figures that reflect  changes from the previous  workshop, adding up at this time to a deficit of $869,000, and this figure does include:

 

Corrected Banked Levy Capacity  figure:  $234,000

Health Insurance premium increase @ 16%

Sheriff   Vehicle purchase of total 7 patrol vehicles 

 

Other items suggested for consideration were: 

 

Revenue: 

    Add  $23,000 from Auditor’s Office [$10,000 recording  fees/$13,000 license fees]

 

Expenditures:

COLAs [1% = $130,000]

 M&O increases 1% - based on inflation and postage increases

 Capital increases 1% over previous year

 

Consensus

 

Building Fee Increase.  Based upon new functions, GMA update and capital equipment, initiate a 15% building fee permit increase, with revenue increase recognized in the budget in the amount of  $171,000. 

 

Sheriff Vehicles.    Add purchase of 2 detective vehicles

 

Auditor Revenue.  Add  $23,000 to revenue side from Auditor’s Office [$10,000 recording          

fees/$13,000 license fees]

 

Work Hours.   Based on reducing the budget deficit from 2 million to current figure $869,000, reduction in hours, 40 to 36 per week, is not the proper solution.   Recognize there cannot be uniform cuts  throughout  every department in the County,  and there may be cases where some departments  are not cut and others have to be cut more in order to  compensate. 

 

Follow-up:   

 

Budget Director to go out  to the departments by memorandum asking for  new updated revenue figures, and attach revenue worksheets for their use.  Work with the Treasurer to come up with  accurate investment interest and other revenues.

 

Budget Director will provide to the Board a new  worksheet  based on today’s decisions/directions

 

Each Commissioner individually will use the  6/24/02 summary  that included  every department [even if cuts were  not proposed] listing the  specific budget reduction proposals for each and any alternatives proposed,  to come up with proposed cuts from each department in order to reach the budget deficit and submit same to the Budget Director.  

 

From the individual Commissioner proposals, the Budget Director will  develop a spreadsheet department by department, listing in 3 columns the  proposed reductions from the individual Commissioners for review and consideration at the next budget  session scheduled for July 15th at 11:00 a.m.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this  time, the special session adjourned  at 12:05 p.m.  The Board  will meet in Regular Session on July 15, 2002, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Law & Justice Facility, Department III [Courtroom 3] located at 101 N. E. 6th Street, Coupeville.

 

                                                                        BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                                                        ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

                                                                         ______________________________

                                                                         Mike Shelton,  Chairman

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    _____________________________

                                                                        Wm. L. McDowell,   Member 

 

                                                                        _____________________________

                                                                        William F. Thorn,   Member

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_________________________

Elaine Marlow

Clerk of the Board