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Home My WebLink About034 04 e fl1:.C J£éIJt4. '//1, elf' STATE OF WASHINGTON County Of Jefferson In The Matter of Establishing Goals And Objectives for the 2005 County Budget } } } } RESOLUTION NO. 34-04 WHEREAS, Jefferson County's growing population continues to put pressure on the provision of public services; and, WHEREAS, due to slower economic growth, Washington State and local governments are experiencing significantly lower revenues; and, WHEREAS, the state legislature has all but eliminated aid to local governments for the high cost of the criminal justice system managed by counties; and, WHEREAS, initiatives passed by the people of the state have reduced or eliminated revenue sources previously relied upon to pay for services and programs; and, WHEREAS, additional revenue sources needed to sustain existing county programs will need to be referred to Jefferson County voters for approval; and, WHEREAS, increases in program costs due to inflation, and the reduction in revenue due to shifting of state and federal priorities affect the delivery of county services; and, WHEREAS, in order to support the service needs of a growing community the future economic vitality of the county will need to be enhanced; and, WHEREAS, adequate funding reserves need to be maintained for each operating budget to provide for emergencies and cash flow; and, WHEREAS, the annual budget process provides opportunities to focus resources in support of strategic issues facing Jefferson County; and, WHEREAS, the strategic budget objectives of highest priority are: a) Invest in community infrastructure that encourages economic opportunity, b) Protecting and enhancing natural resources, c) Support local law and justice programs, d) Address locally identified and defined local public health problems, Resolution No. 34-04 re: 2005 Budget Goals & Objectives Page: 2 e) Planning for long-term capital facility needs, f) Operating within a business plan based on sustainable resources, measured performance, and outstanding customer service. WHEREAS, in order to maximize limited resources, programs and services must be strategic, effective and efficient in their delivery, and target true community priorities; and, WHEREAS, it is recognized that citizens of Jefferson County expect both accountability from their public servants and affordability from their government; and, WHEREAS, Jefferson County together with the City of Port Townsend and other local government agencies recognize that collaborative efforts to provide services benefit all citizens of the county; and, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Jefferson County does hereby establish the following goals and objectives to guide development and adoption of the 2005 Jefferson County Budget: BUDGET PREPARATION 1. Budget requests shall be prepared in a consistent, citizen friendly format that clearly identifies the resources needed for each program, and what services are being bought through that program. 2. Departments shall prepare budgets following the standard format provided to them in the Call For Budgets from the County Auditor. Two budgets shall be submitted as follows: a) Budget Scenario 1, use 2004 budget as base, add 2%. Within the 2% increase the budget must absorb all operating costs (less capital purchases) including salaries, benefits, supplies, etc. b) Budget Scenario 2, use 2004 budget as base, subtract 15%. Within this reduced amount indicate how you would manage your responsibilities. Indicate which programs would be cut, and what level of service would be expected. Within this 15% reduction the budget must absorb all operating costs (less capital purchases) including salaries, benefits, supplies, etc. Resolution No. 34-04 re: 2005 Budget Goals & Objectives Page: 3 3. Each department and each major division or program within each department shall prepare a narrative, which shall include: a) The department mission statement in a clear concise statement telling why the organization exists. b) The department's staffing requirements for the coming year clearly indicating which staff positions are grant supported. c) Outcomes expected to be obtained by the program, including impacts anticipated by increased or decreased funding. d) A description of how the program supports the six (6) priority strategic objectives. FISCAL BUDGET OBJECTIVES 4. The budget, when adopted, will be balanced within available resources. In addition to annual fiscal objectives, efforts need to be made to look into the future to meet long-term service needs. 5. Growth in General Fund property taxes shall not exceed 1 % plus taxes collected on new construction. 6. Growth in Road Fund property taxes shall not exceed I % plus taxes collected on new construction; any additional increase in the road fund property tax shall be earmarked for the road emergency fund. 7. Transfer from the general fund to other operating funds will be kept at 2004 levels for all funds except those special fund departments, in which case the transfer shall be at 2004 levels plus 2%. 8. Maintain personnel costs (salaries, wages, and benefits) within projected growth of reoccurring and sustainable revenues. 9. A minimum reserve of 10% shall be maintained for all operating funds. A minimum reserve of 25% shall be maintained for the non-capital expenses of the Road Fund. 10. Revenues collected in excess of the minimum reserve shall be held for one-time, special purpose needs that fulfill strategic objectives of the county. Resolution No. 34-04 re: 2005 Budget Goals & Objectives Page: 4 11. Departments with programs that are primarily funded with pennit and service fees shall prepare a summary of fee revenue in relation to overall program costs and program activities and outcomes. 12. The Parks and Recreation Program shall be funded with the intention that the recreation program will be shifted to a fee based revenue over the next five years (Reduce General Fund subsidy by 1/5 per year). STRATEGIC BUDGET OBJECTIVES 13. Support an effective economic development strategy for Jefferson County. a) Work with the City of Port Townsend, Port of Port Townsend, Peninsula Development Agency, Economic Development Council and others to foster a common economic development agenda. b) Review and evaluate the pennit process and make adjustments to areas where the process is constrained. c) Proceed with the development of a sanitary sewer to service the Port HadlocklIrondale UGA. 14. Supporting and maintaining law and justice programs. a) Collaborate with the courts, law enforcement, prosecution, and other law and justice providers through the Law and Justice Council in the development of strategies that will yield the best outcomes within available resources. 15. Support of programs that identify and treat significant public health threats. a) Develop programs to address substance abuse issues that emphasize prevention, early intervention, recovery and overcoming community complacency and which assist in implementation of a drug court model. b) Use the Local Health Data Profile to detennine community needs and prioritize services. c) Deliver programs that promote healthier community and individuals. 16. Develop a strategy to relocate the Public Works Department to Castle Hill; redevelop the Castle Hill property to fully utilize available space; invest in the continual renovation of the Courthouse. Resolution No. 34-04 re: 2005 Budget Goals & Objectives Page: 5 EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OBJECTIVES 17. In order to meet the fiscal and strategic objectives above, efforts to make county government more efficient and effective will be a priority. Specifically: a) Consolidate programs in cooperation with other governmental entities where missions are similar, and where funding streams can be leveraged. b) Reduce or eliminate general fund expenditures to programs which are not core to the County's primary mission. c) Eliminate or reduce costs associated with management and overhead though consolidation of programs. d) Emphasize improving financial and reporting systems, consolidation of data, and management of technology infrastructure. e) Consider privatizing and outsourcing services, programs, and functions where beneficial. f) Continue to examine the feasibility of developing a fibre-optic network to serve local government in Eastern Jefferson County. 18. Continue to partner with other local agencies and to develop opportunities to work together on service delivery. a) Assure that costs associated with delivery of service are equitably apportioned. Begin work to establish a performance management structure in the budgeting of public resources which sets clear priorities in public expenditures, establishes a baseline to measure costs, creates measurable outcomes in service delivery, and public accountability for results achieved. -k '--!1ffROVED this J.i!:day of July, 2004. "I ".. ? If ", ,'t ':: ¡;"~ç J~' . JEFFERSON COUNTY .. -.¡,'-. ' BO~F CO I I , , . . ' ~ ~ S' :.' , , c, ,.',.. j4*J~'~ Œe r Julie Matt~s/ €MC . ~., ....... ""'~ Clerk of the Board 19. S