HomeMy WebLinkAbout057 96JEFFERSON COUNTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON
In the Matter of }
A Resolution Establishing }
Budget Objectives for the }
1997 Jefferson County }
Budget }
Resolution No. 57~96
Whereas, Jefferson County population has grown by over 40% during the past 10 years,
and
Whereas, Jefferson County population is expected to increase by 53% over the next 20
years, and
Whereas, Continued high growth in population increases county citizens' expectations
for expanded services, and
Whereas, County services must meet citizen needs efficiently and effectively, and
Whereas, Increased demands on the Law & Justice Offices (Clerk, District and Superior
Court, Juvenile and Family Court, Prosecutor, Sheriff) with case load, incarcerations,
and court hearings make it necessary to provide additional resources to these offices,
and
Whereas, Citizens need responsive access to information and decision making by the
county, 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 vitahty of the county needs to be maintained and
enhanced, and
Whereas, Capital improvements need to be programmed for funding in order to be
constructed as scheduled in the County Capital Facilities Plan.
Now, Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners does
hereby establish the following objectives to guide development and adoption of the
1997 Jefferson County Budget:
1. Growth in County Budget shall be targeted to not exceed the growth limit
established for the state budget under Initiative 601 as apphed to Jefferson County.
· This limit is estimated to be 6.28% increase over the 1996 adopted budget
without Emergency Appropriations. The current projection is for growth in the
base budget to be less than 5% for the General fund.
· Additional spending above the base budget will be limited by available funding
together with the 1-601 limit used as a benchmark for growth.
· For all other funds the target of 6.28% shall be on the operating portions (non
capital) of the 1996 adopted budget without Emergency Appropriations.
1997 Budget Objectives
Page I
· Emergency Appropriations approved in 1996 will be considered Budget Adds
for 1997. No budget appropriations will be allowed for 1997 unless they are
truly related to an emergency, or unanticipated situation. Departments need to
manage their budgets to avoid budget appropriations.
2. The County Property Tax Levy will be set at 104% with a portion taken off the top
above inflation (estimated at 3%) to be earmarked for capital projects.
· Increases in funding will be prioritized to meet the needs outlined in the Capital
Facilities Plan to be adopted as part of the County Comprehensive Plan.
3. 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.
· Increases in staff need to fund all costs, resource and space requirements
associated with increases in staff.
· Staffing levels, existing as well as proposed increases, should clearly
demonstrate need based on workload indicators, comparisons to other counties
and how department operation could be severely affected without maintaining
or increasing staff levels.
4. Priority shall be given to funding Law & Justice Offices in order to meet projected
demands for services and future resource needs.
· A transition plan and associated funding shall be developed in anticipation of a
full-time District Court Judge and additional Superior Court Judge within the
next five years.
· Funding to meet increases in Juvenile Detention shall be prioritized for funding.
· Distribution of funding within Law and Justice Offices shall be determined with
recommendations by the County Law & Justice Offices within the Law & Justice
Council.
5. Funding shall be set aside to allow for cost increases due to labor contract
negotiations.
6. 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.
7. The Capital Facilities Program shall be given priority for funding.
· Preservation of existing facilities shall be given a priority for funding
consideration in order to minimize the long range needs for capital facilities.
· Revenue received from the sale of timber from county trust lands in excess of
$150,000 will be set aside for improvements in data processing systems and
capital projects. Funding will not be considered without an approved Capital
Facilities Plan or an approved Information Services/IDMS Plan.
· Revenue from the sale of county lands or timber shall be considered to fund the
purchase of property' in the Quilcene Flood Plain.
1997 Budget Objectives
Technology and data processing improvements shah be given priority for funding.
· Additional excess General Fund balance shah be prioritized to be spent on
improvements to data processing systems, capital improvements, and helping to
fund innovative improvements.
9. Budget requests shah be prioritized to support one-time investments in work
process improvements through training and technology improvements.
· Priority shah also be given to providing an "innovation" budget to invest in
ways to improve services through the use of technology, improved work
processes, and non-traditional service providers
10. Revenues from fees and services shah be indexed in order to keep pace with
inflation.
· 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.
11. Departments shall prepare narrative information identifying changes in mandated
services with an evaluation of the impact from reductions in federal and state
revei1Lle sources.
· Departments shah also track recent federal and state funding changes with the
"devolution" of federal funding programs
12. A minimum reserve of 10% shah be maintained for the aH 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 aH other operating funds shah be set at a minimum of 10%.
13. Funding for working with advisory boards and citizen groups shall continue to be
prioritized.
14. Funding shah be provided in the Non-departmental budget for training support
equal to 1% of the direct costs for payroll.
· This funding shall be in addition to and complement training already provided
in individual department budgets.
* Training shah be integrated to provide easy access preferably at the local level.
1997 Budget Objectives
Page 3
Priority shall be given to developing a partnership with WSU Cooperative
Extension to create and implement a structured training program.
15. Priority shall be given to acquiring funding and partnering with other agencies to
implement strategies for economic development.
Assist the community of Quilcene in developing a water system to support
industrial development.
· Work with the City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County P.U.D. #1 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.
Adopted thkg~
on Count.
j~air '
Glen Huntingford, Me, jae~t
Attest:
day of
/.~
Lorna Delaney, Clerk of the Board
1997 Budget Objectives
0 I .78
Page 4