2024-04-23 BudgetBudget Update
April 23, 2024
2 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, Becky Butler
Guest(s):
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
Becky Butler provided the following updates:
• 2023 year-end update
o Use of reserves totaled $1.6 million
o General Fund revenue was $46.2 million ($1.1 million more than budget)
o General Fund expenditures totaled $47.9 million ($2.2 million less than budget)
o Original budget showed a $4.1 million use of reserves
o Overall sales and use tax for General Fund was $10.2 million compared to $10.5 million
in 2022
• 2024 year-to-date
o General Fund revenue is $331,000 less than Q1 2023
o General Fund expenditures are $833,000 more than Q1 2023
o Sales tax collections for January 2024 totaled $712,000, roughly $2,300 less than 2023
totals
• 2025 planning
o Preparing the 2025 salary and benefit estimates
o Notice regarding new timelines and budget trainings will be sent April 29
o Departments under the BOCC will meet in June to review budget preparations
o Commissioners will meet June 11 to set budget limitations and outline direction for
2025
• American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
o Youth Mentor Program continues through 2026 under new guidelines
o Directors will provide project updates May 14
o 911 contract from RFP to be signed May 7
o Funds expended as of March 31 total $4,066,957
o Critical next steps include signing contracts for and starting work on 911, Fair water
main, Vader Water
• Opioid settlement funds
o County has received more than $700,000 and expended $42,000 on projects such as
Narcan for law enforcement and support of the Youth Advocacy Council
o Thurston County reached out and wanted an appointment to the Regional OAC. The
commissioners said Commissioner Pollock will serve on the Regional OAC.
• Broadband grant
o First connection PR event planned for 11 a.m. May 3 in Winlock
o WSBO has awarded additional funding
o Phase II construction likely to begin mid-May
• Risk services
o Identifying areas of improvement and efficiency
o Risk Policy update planned for May 7
o Coordination with the PAO and WCRP
o Working on training and mitigation for Workers’ Comp claims
o Risk Pool anticipating increases in property insurance premiums due to updated building
values
o All contracts being reviewed for indemnification and insurance limits due to
inconsistencies
o With BOCC approval, BOCC will expand its footprint to include the area beyond the
former PIO’s office (into the area currently designated to the Assessor’s Office), and Risk
staff will move into BOCC office in May
o Safety functions being transferred back to DEM
o Risk staff to be given county-issued phones
The commissioners said they are in support of the footprint expansion, the transfer of Safety Officer
functions and the purchase of phones for Risk.
• Public Defense
o Supreme Court hearing on caseload standards could take place as early as May.
o Staff being cross-trained
o Superior Court contracts were not updated for 2024
o There are no contracts in place for conflict attorneys
o Considering RFP for additional attorneys as current caseloads are even heavier than in
2023
Commissioner Brummer made a motion to direct Ryan Barrett to continue negotiating and then sign a
contract with Rachel Tiller for Public Defense. Commissioner Pollock seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Meeting ended at 3:03 p.m.