HomeMy WebLinkAbout010525 email - Interlocal Agreement for funding_ supporting the TBDALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Commissioners Dean, Eisenhour, Brotherton, and Commissioner-elect Dudley-Nolette,
I am writing in response to the BOCC agenda item regarding a proposed resolution authorizing the Jefferson County Administrator to execute an Interlocal Agreement with the governing
body of the newly formed TBD.
Based on comments made during the December 16th BOCC meeting by the Director of Public Works, Monte Reinders and support by all present, there was an assumption that there would be no
funding for the TBD's operating and general overhead expenses other than those potentially collected by the proposed funding mechanisms for the TBD yet to be approved. The interlocal
agreement implies that resources that already exist within Jefferson County operations could be utilized in support of the newly formed TBD. This means that the newly formed TBD will
have an immediate impact on overhead and funding of other county departments by either diverting fiscal resources or even diverting service attention to those same departments. This,
to me, implies that there is a fiscal impact that was not properly represented/ exposed to the public prior to your vote and decision to form the TBD.
Just as in your desire to form a PFD and then worry about funding later, it seems that the same methodology is occurring with regard to the TBD, i.e. just form the new taxing districts
and worry about how to fund them later. And with regard to the funding of the TBD, Commissioner Brotherton repeatedly stated that the funding mechanisms will still be up for public
review and comment, and that one methodology could involve voter approval on any new sales tax increases or annual car tab fees regardless of the councilmanic approval approach. I strongly
urge that you make all new funding mechanism proposals subject to voter approval, regardless of what is permitted by the RCWs. This is the fair way to involve the public in decision
making that can have a very regressive impact financially on our residents.
Finally, Director Reinders and others stated that property taxes will not be used to fund the TBD. Will this mean that the current road maintenance portion of our property taxes will
be eliminated, thus reducing our property tax burden by the 10% as was used as an example (someone pays $4,000.00 in property taxes annually, $400.00 of that currently goes to road
maintenance)? My guess is that you will not cut it from our property taxes, just like the gas tax won't truly go away with the implementation of the proposed Road Usage Tax.
I would appreciate a response to this email at your earliest convenience. Please forward this email to Commissioner Dudley-Nolette for me; I don't have her email address yet.
Thank-you.
Mark L Grant
Jefferson County