2017-10-19 Update with BudgetUpdate with Budget
October 19, 2017
3 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Steve Walton, Becky
Butler, Erik Martin
Guests: Matt Brock, Bill Marshall, Anthony Ahrens, Justyna Tomtas
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Becky Butler discussed the potential effects an $800,000 shift.
She discussed potential reductions for the BOCC and WSU, including reduced hours for two positions,
eliminating a .80 admin, and taking back the WSU conference room. She said future plans could include
rental fees for outside agencies using the county’s conference rooms. Steve Walton said he doesn’t
support moving WSU to the fairgrounds.
Becky said Sheila Gray was approached in June / July to ask for ways to identify potential savings.
Becky said when talks center around cutting staff, then non-mandated programs must be looked out.
Becky said the board could tell WSU that the board needs to cut its budget by X dollars and then let
WSU decide how to accomplish that. She said the board also could suggest a fixed lease amount and
then look for a site that better fits within the lease amount. She also suggested renegotiating the
interlocal agreement.
Becky discussed the decentralization about Fiscal. She said Family Support has eyed moving from the
James Building to the to-be-vacated Fiscal site.
Bill Marshall suggested possibly reaching out to Centralia about housing the Master Garden program.
Becky reminded the group that the county has 25 age-eligible potential retirements for 2018. She and
Erik Martin discussed a possibly levy shift, a process that last took place in 2010 and 2011, Becky said.
Erik said reserves are necessary in case of snowfall and flooding.
The group discussed the additional funding request from the Assessor’s Office.
Commissioner Fund suggested holding another meeting with the Assessor’s Office.
Becky said the board has 30 days to make the changes before the budget is finalized.
Commissioner Jackson asked if road repairs can be put on hold to accommodate the levy shift. Erik said
the most-traveled roads would still be taken care of while the less-traveled roads would be put on hold.
Erik said his concern centers around losing projects that require small matches. And he worries about
maintenance too, he said.
REQUESTS
Superior Court: $3,778 to tie the Court Commissioner’s salary to the judges’ salary: Commissioner
Stamper, Commissioner Fund, and Commissioner Jackson approved the salary increase for the court
commissioner. The commissioners denied the request to tie the court commissioner’s salary to judges’
salaries.
Prosecuting Attorney: $75,000 request denied.
Sheriff: Two deputies: Denied. Fingerprint machine(s): Approved. Mobile fingerprint machine:
Approved.
Jail: Fingerprint machines. Approved.
Juvenile: ER and R for vehicle: Approved. Supervision salaries: Approved. Increase in medical costs:
Approved.
Coroner: Professional services medical: Approved.
WSU: Increase county contributions: Denied.
OTHER
Community Development: $90,000 denied (not needed because fees moving forward).
BOCC: Maintain BOCC office position at half-time: Approve. Cut Budget position to 0.75: Approved.
WSU: Reduce position: Undecided. Take back control of conference room: Approved.
Becky said medical costs remain unknown.
Commissioner Stamper left at 4:15 p.m. and returned at 4:16 p.m.
Becky asked if the board would ever consider an early retirement incentive. The group discussed the
need for succession planning.
Becky reminded the group that sales tax is budgeted conservatively.
Becky said the Weed assessment was removed for 2018. She said there was discussion about revisiting it
for implementation in 2019.
Internal service funds: Keep the rates the same? Or allow rates to be increased? Suggest they absorb as
they can.
Senior centers: Still to be decided.
Public Health: Reduce programs to reduce transfer? Ask for ways to reduce transfers.
Matt Brock discussed his past experiences with retirement buyouts.
Bill Marshall said he has been impressed with the county during his time on the advisory board.
Commissioner Stamper discussed the one-tenth of 1 percent and asked Anthony his view on raising
taxes.
Commissioner Stamper discussed the need to attract new commercial businesses. Commissioner
Stamper said there are developers who would build the gated communities, etc. that large companies
would want to see.
In response to a question from Justyna, Becky said if the county moved forward with a tax increase, it
likely wouldn’t take place until 2019.
Becky discussed the voter-approved taxes that could be used to offset some of the unfunded mandates.
Bill Marshall discussed the troubles surrounding permitting for large-scale development.
Becky discussed the increasing costs for retirements and medical.
Decisions yet to be made: Assessor, WSU, Health, county manager, senior centers. The board said to
move forward with $800,000 for the levy shift.
Meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.