2018-09-05 Citizens Budget Committee MeetingCitizens Budget Committee Meeting
September 5, 2018
4 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Stamper, County Manager Erik
Martin, Budget Services Manager Becky Butler, Judy Pectol, Kyle Markstrom, Peggy Hammer, Bob Berg,
Tory Graf, Bill Marshall
Recorder: Rieva Lester
The commissioners and the members of the Citizens Budget Committee introduced themselves.
Erik Martin joined at 4:13 p.m.
Becky Butler gave an overview of the budget process as well as the preliminary schedule for the
upcoming budget meetings.
Commissioner Fund outlined some of the challenges the county faces, such as unfunded mandates,
mental health issues, etc.
Commissioner Stamper discussed timber revenues, the flood, bargaining groups, the closure of the
mine, Secure Rural Schools funding and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding.
Commissioner Jackson discussed his background in sales and communications. He said sales tax revenue
is up and that more homes are being built. He said expenditures are outpacing revenues and that public
safety takes up about 85 percent of the county’s budget.
Commissioner Stamper said the EDC is working on recruiting companies small and large to Lewis County.
Erik Martin discussed his background and his new role within the county.
Becky noted that the county budgets revenue conservatively.
Erik discussed the confederation of tribes that sued the state over fish passages. He said the
replacement of those culverts will cost the state billions. He said the county has several undersized
culverts and that the county has been actively pursuing grants to replace its culverts.
Commissioner Fund discussed the trials regarding the workforce and flooding.
Becky and the Citizens Budget Committee scheduled a follow-up meeting for 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 11.
Meeting adjourned at 5:01 p.m.