HomeMy WebLinkAbout026 09
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JEFFERSON COUNTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON
In the Matter of Establishing New
Hours of Operation for the Jefferson
County Courthouse Offices
(Repeals & Replaces Resolution No. C-170
Effective May 1,2009)
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RESOLUTION NO. 26-09
WHEREAS, Jefferson County Courthouse Offices have been open to the public for the
transaction of business between the hours of9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
(except designated legal holidays); and
WHEREAS, due to the current economy and budget shortfalls in Jefferson County the
hours of operation at the Jefferson County Courthouse need to be reduced; and
WHEREAS, County employees located in Offices in the Courthouse need to reduce their
work day by Yz hour; and
WHEREAS, hours of operation for the public are being reduced an additional Yz hour to
allow staff time to complete their daily work without interruptions.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of County Commissioners
that the hours of operation for Offices located in the Courthouse will be 8:30 a.m. through 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday (except designated legal holidays).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution repeals and replaces Resolution
No. C-170 and shall become effective May 1, 2009; and
BE IT FIN ALL Y RESOLVED, that notice of said hours of operation will be published
in the Port Townsend Leader on April 29 and May 6, 2009.
APPROVED this 27th day of April, 2009.
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Lorna 1. Del~MC () I J
Deputy Clerk of the Board
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOA/% C~OMIS ONERS
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Davl SUlliv~alfman '
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Phir(~s!;'-Member
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PLEASE PUBLISH 2 TIMES: April 29 and May 6, 2009
Please Bill:
Jefferson County Commissioners Office
P.O. Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Bill Account # 15829
Non-Departmental
NOTICE
Change in
Jefferson County Courthouse
Hours of Operation
Effective May 1,2009 the hours of operation to the public for Jefferson County
Courthouse Offices will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except
designated legal holidays).
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
David Sullivan, Chairman
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RESOlUTION NO. 0-170
PURSUANT to provisions of Chapter 100 Laws of Washington,
1951, all Jefferson County Offices shall be kept open for the
transaction of business between the hours of 9:00 o'clock A. M.
and 5:00 o'clock P.M., each day of the year except Saturdays and
Sundays and such days as may be designated as legal holidays in
the State of Washington; provided hOllever, that the provisions of
this Resolution shall not apply to the Courts of Jefferson County,
nor their officers, nor to the Board of County Caimissioners.
ADOPTED THIS 21st day of January, 1952.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO:
Board of County Commissioners
FROM:
Philip Morley, County Administrator
DATE:
~(X'\ \ 27,2009
RE:
Recommended 2009 County Budget Reductions
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
A Public Hearing is scheduled at lOAM, April 27 to take public comment on the First Quarter
Budget Extensions and Recommended Reductions to the 2009 Budget. At the Hearing, staff will
give a brief overview of both of these items, prior to public comment.
The Budget Extensions is under separate cover.
After hearing comments from the public, the Board of County Commissioners is asked to
deliberate and take action on the proposed Budget Extension and Budget Reductions. The
Budget Reductions would take effect May 1,2009. To implement the Budget Reductions,
Commissioners are asked to adopt three Resolutions:
. Mid-Year Budget Reductions for Various County Departments
. Voluntary Reduction of Elected Officials' Salaries to the General Fund
. Establishing New Hours of Operation for the General Public at the Jefferson County
Courthouse
ANALYSIS:
Jefferson County, like most counties throughout Washington State, has seen an unanticipated
drop in revenues because of a world-wide economic recession that has recently grown to be the
worst in over 50 years. Revenues to the County's General Fund are projected be approximately
$1,000,000 below what we budgeted for in our adopted 2009 Jefferson County Budget by year's
end. The County is required to maintain a balanced budget that matches expenditures and
revenues.
The services that County staff provides to the residents, businesses and visitors of Jefferson
County are important, especially at a time when the economic recession has left people more
reliant on those services. We also value our talented County staff, rely on the work they
perform, and wish to retain their knowledge and skill for the future. For all these reasons, and
more, we seek to buffer them as best we can from the impacts of this recession.
Over the past month, the department directors and independent elected officials have been
working together to find ways to accomplish these goals, and balance our County Budget. We
have also worked with UFCW Local 21 and Teamsters Local 589 as representatives of our union
staff.
Budget reductions are necessary, and they will be taken in stages. Some cuts are being made
now, to control variable costs and reduce the likelihood of much deeper reductions had they been
delayed to later. Others budget reductions, especially some one-time transfers or use of fund
reserves in other funds, will be made in subsequent quarters of this year, so that we can fine tune
them to be commensurate with revenues the County actually receives.
Through hard work, two thirds of the General Fund budget reductions are being made through
cuts in non-staff areas. We have contained changes that affect our employees so that less than
one-third of the General Fund reduction is from reductions affecting staff.
I am recommending $452,069 in budget reductions to be implemented May 1. These reductions
affect departments and the Courts funded by the General Fund, and reduce operating transfers
from the General Fund to other departments not part of the General Fund. Additional reductions
of an estimated $190,000 will be recommended in future quarters. These changes include
Sheriff s Department budget reductions as well as reduction of fund balances in other funds and
one-time transfers in from other funds.
As part of our immediate cost reductions, the hours or salary of staff in most departments in the
General Fund as well as the Facilities and Information Services Divisions of Central Services are
being reduced by 6 v..% starting May I through the end of2009. For affected hourly employees
this means moving to a 37 II, hour work week (or the equivalent in voluntary furloughs).
Salaried staff pay is being reduced a similar amount, 6 v..%. A Resolution by which the three
County Commissioners voluntarily redirect back to the General Fund 6 v.. % of their salaries and
allowing the Auditor, Assessor, Clerk, Sheriff, and Treasurer to voluntarily redirect 6 v..% of
their salaries, is attached. (Salaries for the Prosecutor, District Court Judge and Superior Court
Judge are set by the state, and legally these three elected officials cannot redirect their salaries in
the same fashion.)
These hour and salary reductions account for $181,000 in savings in the General Fund through
the end of the year out of our $1 Million goal. Positions left vacant account for another $101,000
m savmgs.
With the reduction in staff hours, it is necessary to reduce the hours the Courthouse is open to the
public. A Resolution is attached that sets public hours at 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. This reduction is
necessary to accommodate shorter work hours, and to also give staff 30 minutes uninterrupted
work time where the Courthouse is closed to complete their work within the shorter hours.
The drop in county revenues requires that we make these cost-saving reductions now, in order to
help lessen the need or size of more drastic measures later. These reductions are difficult for
everyone.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Reductions proposed now and planned for future quarters will reduce General Fund
expenditures, but still leave a potential gap between revenues and expenditures of $200,000.
Recent information gives promise that revenues in future months may make up this difference.
Other expenditure reduction options are being explored, as well as the possibility of drawing
upon excess fund balance.
RECOMMENDATION:
After hearing public testimony and upon deliberation, staff recommends that the Board of
County Commissioners adopt the Resolution to reduce the Budget, and adopt the Resolution
allowing a voluntary redirection of 6 v.% of salary by elected officials.
REVIEWED BY:
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Date