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Home My WebLink About089 97 Cé'. 4Ll- D~- g-5-97 JEFFERSON COUNTY STATE OF WASHINGTON In the Matter of A Resolution Establishing Budget Objectives for the 1998 Jefferson County Budget } } } } } 89-97 Resolution No. Whereas, Jefferson County population has grown by 45.3% during the past 10 years, and Whereas, Jefferson County population is expected to increase by approximately 50% over the next 20 years, and Whereas, Continued high growth in population creates additional demands for expanded services, and Whereas, The annual budget process provides opportunities to focus resources in support of strategic issues facing Jefferson County, and Whereas, County services must meet citizen needs efficiently and effectively, and Whereas, Annual increases in costs due to inflation affects salary and operating expenses for County services, and Whereas, Adequate funding reserves need to be established for each operating budget to provide for emergencies and for cash flow, and Whereas, The future economic vitality of the county needs to be maintained and enhanced, and Now, Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners hereby establishes the following objectives to guide development and adoption of the 1998 Jefferson County Budget: 1. Growth in County Budget Expenditure Base shall be targeted to not exceed growth in population and inflation. . This growth benchmark is estimated to be a 5.0% increase over the 1997 adopted budget without emergency appropriations. The current projection is for growth in the base budget to be approximately 5.6% for the General fund. This growth is primarily due to salary and benefit contract agreements. . Additional spending above the base budget will be limited by available funding together with population and inflation growth factors. . For all other funds the target of 5.0% shall be on the operating portions (non- capital) of the 1997 adopted budget without emergency appropriations. . Emergency appropriations approved in 1997 will be considered Budget Adds for 1998 if requested to continue. 2. Additional Budget Revenue will need to be considered in order to balance the budget for 1998. . VOL 23 ;,~r,537 1998 Budget Objectives . Revenue growth for 1997 is projected to be 1-2% below budget. Increases in revenue will need to fund any budget shortfall experienced in 1997 in order to maintain reserves. . Revenue increases above 5% will need to be considered to maintain current program levels. 3. The Board of Commissioners may need to request from any and all departments a reduced budget proposal as determined by the Board to meet budget shortfalls. . Requests for budget reductions may be requested prior to preliminary budget review to allow full discussion of the impacts to the department. 4. The Board of Commissioners will consider increasing the County Property Tax Levy to the maximum allowed by law (106% limit) with a portion taken off the top above inflation (estimated at 2.5 %) to be earmarked for specific programs. . Increases in property taxes will be used primarily to maintain funding for existing programs and services . The preliminary budget review will identify specific programs to be maintained or reduced dependent on adoption of property tax amounts. 5. Funding shall be set aside to allow for cost increases due to labor contract negotiations. 6. Total staffing as measured in 40 hour Full Time Equivalents (F.T.E.'s) shall be tracked and compared to other counties that are similar in size and scope of services provided. . Requests for staff increases will consider all costs, resource and space requirements associated such as telephones, computers, furniture, and office supplies, and administrative overhead. . Staffing levels, existing as well as proposed increases, should clearly demonstrate need based on workload indicators as tracked in the Jefferson County Financial Perspective, comparisons to other counties and how department operation could be severely affected without maintaining or increasing staff levels. 7. Priority shall be given to seeking funding from State and Federal sources in order to meet projected demands for services in Law and Justice Offices. . Plan for a full-time District Court Judge in 1999. Distribution of funding within Law and Justice Offices shall be determined with recommendations by the County Law and Justice Offices within the Law and Justice Council. Work through the Washington State Association of Counties and other affiliate organizations to seek increases in funding for Law and Justice programs due to State and Federal mandates. . . , VOL 2:3 ~~r~ 538 1998 Budget Objectives Page 2 1998 Budget Objectives 8. Continued funding for long range planning shall be prioritized in recognition of the significant on-going planning requirements required of the County after the adoption of the County Comprehensive Plan. . Consider modifications to staffing levels upon adoption of the final County Comprehensive Plan 9. Maintenance and improvement of data processing and management shall be given priority for funding. . Continue to provide funding for Year 2000 conversion of financial data systems. . Provide for database development and maintenance to support department level information management systems. 10. Priority will be given to providing funding for ways to improve services through the use of technology, improved work processes, and non-traditional service providers. 11. Revenues from fees and services shall be reviewed and considered for revision to meet costs for providing services. . Departments that propose fee increases need to prepare an evaluation of fees comparing total fees generated to costs for services. . Departments shall also evaluate effectiveness and efficiencies in determining costs. . Policies shall be established to determine the level of support for fees in relation to costs. Increases in fees will be used to offset overall budget growth and not as a justification for budget growth. 12. Departments shall prepare narrative information identifying changes in mandated services with an evaluation of the impact from reductions in federal and state revenue sources. . Departments shall also track recent federal and state funding changes with the "devolution" of federal funding programs 13. A minimum reserve of 10% shall be maintained for all operating funds. . The General Fund reserve shall be a minimum of 10% of expenditures. . The Health & Human Services Fund and the Facilities Fund shall maintain reserves of 10% of annual budget. Consideration will be given for increasing funding reserves for these funds out of the General Fund balance in excess of the 10% reserve if the fund is unable to do so due to unanticipated revenue decreases or unanticipated expenditure increases. . Reserves for all other operating funds shall be set at a minimum of 10%. 14. Funding for working with advisory boards and citizen groups shall continue to be prioritized. 15. Funding shall be provided in the Non-departmental budget for training support equal to 1 % of the direct costs for payroll. 1998 Budget Objectives , VOL 23 ;~r;539 Page 3 1998 Budget Objectives This funding shall be in addition to and complement training already provided in individual department budgets. . Training shall be integrated to provide easy access preferably at the local level. . Priority shall be given to continuing the partnership with WSU Learning Center to implement a structured training program. 16. Priority shall be given efforts to support economic development strategies. . Work with county agencies, service providers, and community organizations to support economic development efforts throughout Jefferson County. . Work with the City of Port Townsend, Jefferson County P.UD. #1, and/ or other public and private institutions to develop infrastructure to support growth in accordance with the County Comprehensive Plan. . Support the efforts of the Port of Port Townsend and the Economic Development Council in developing and enhancing business opportunities in the unincorporated areas of the County. 17. Priority will be given efforts that support strategic plan objectives. . Support will be given to efforts that focus resources in support of adopted strategic plan objectives. These objectives are to established prior to preliminary review of department budgets in October. Adopted this /f Jé., Seal: ..N-' . '~',' " /"1"""'ý,-,,, ;')~-7t '. f,J "'" I ,f. :;-,(/' í . , .. , . ",..¡ " " I . t',',", ',' ¡ . '" . ," '1' " ,. ' \ I '~. ' ¡' ,,' I' ~' , " '~! '\"' <. ,,' "'" l ..; ,: ..' ," '.- . .\ c: ;',' " .tf. t,"j , . . 'It -,~,,-- , . '" ., ---,' " " . .) \'" " ....... ". " --- 1997. Richard Wojt, Chair Attest: Lorna Delaney, Clerk of the Board 1998 Budget Objectives VOL ~~ '.~r.; 540 Page 4