The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About010825 email - Re_ 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 Commissioner Brotherton, Thanks for your response. I appreciate hearing from any of our elected officials whenever I have something that I feel is of concern to not only me, but to everyone who lives in our community. The guest column piece that I wrote for the PT Leader underlines my primary worries in that the taxing systems as have been recently proposed are extremely regressive, and have a great impact on those who can least afford having their family budgets reduced by even the smallest of amounts. A much more equitable approach to dealing with new departmental funding issues could be handled through property tax increases and not through sales tax increases. I know that there would be push back on that from many fronts, especially from those entities/ taxing districts that are worried that the appetite for and source of property tax revenue is being diluted. But, property taxes tax residents based on the value of their property assets, and those who have higher valuations pay more, and those who have lower valuations pay less. This is a fair and equitable taxing system, especially for our community. Honestly, I am not thrilled with the prospects of higher property taxes, but these sales tax increase cases that are being presented via the PFD and TBD will, I am afraid, be crippling for many families who are barely surviving paycheck to paycheck. For the long time residents who live on fixed incomes and who have seen their property valuation go through the roof due to the steady migration of those with more sustainable wealth increasing the buying/ price point/ tax assessment of our real estate, influenced primarily by real estate availability and demand, maybe more creative efforts could be taken to discount their property tax outlay. This could be further managed through policy changes at the Board of Equalization. I am just trying to think out of the box here. I have been accused of not wanting a viable aquatic center for our community, and am now hearing cries that I don't want good roads. This is the furthest from the truth, and just a convenient way for some to disparage someone who just wants equitable solutions to our community's financial stability with resources that are becoming increasingly limited for all. I would like to see well thought out and thoroughly prioritized community needs emphasised and acted upon first and in a fair and equitable way. Road maintenance should be higher on the list of community priorities, and the new aquatic center concept should be much further down on the list of community priorities. Thanks again and looking forward to your response; I also cc'd this email to the general BOCC email box. Mark L Grant President Grant Steel Buildings and Concrete Systems, Inc. 75 Haada Laas Road Port Townsend, WA 98368 Office - 360-379-3236 <tel:360-379-3236> Mobile - 360-301-4340 <tel:360-301-4340> E-mail - grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com <mailto:grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com> Web Address - grantsteelbuildingsystems.com <http://grantsteelbuildingsystems.com/> Grant Steel Buildings and Concrete Systems, Inc is recognized as a certified Veteran Owned Business by the State of Washington. Grant Steel Building and Concrete Systems, Inc is recognized as an Authorized Builder by Varco-Pruden Buildings. On Mon, Jan 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM Greg Brotherton <GBrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:GBrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us> > wrote: Thanks for the note, Mark. I also read your piece in the PT Leader. IT does not seem like it will add a significant amount of work to county staff. We forwarded your note onto Heather. You can also reach all the Commissioners at: jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us> , Greg Brotherton From: Mark Grant <grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com <mailto:grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com> > Sent: Sunday, January 5, 2025 5:46 PM To: Kate Dean <kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us> >; Heidi Eisenhour <HEisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:HEisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us> >; Greg Brotherton <GBrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:GBrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us> > Cc: Mark Grant <grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com <mailto:grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com> > Subject: Interlocal Agreement for funding/ supporting the TBD ALERT: 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 G4AbgB1AGEAbAAgAGMAYQByACAAdABhAGIAIABmAGUAZQBzAMcKmUVcwc0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAAGEICAACAQBIAAIA/FnqHazsUACCLRBoAwGdEHOQ3VT8eAMBnRCDkN1U/IgAANkMkUXInPiYAADZDKFFyJz7uAQAAgD80AACAPzY2lNc8OAAAAEI6NpRXPzwAAABC PjaUVz9AAACgQEKivAY+RAAAoEBGorwGPioAAKhCLAAAqEIuAABQQjAAAFBCSAAAJEJKAAAkQkwAAMBATgAAwEAAHmMAbwB1AG4AYwBpAGwAbQBhAG4AaQBjACAAYQBwAHAAcgBvAHYAYQBsACAAYQBwAHAAcgBvAGEAYwBoAMcK9D1Gwc0UEAcfsCIAAIA/MgAAGEI CAABAQBIAAIA/FpulMDsUACCLRBoAgGlEHBHUVj8eAIBpRCAR1FY/IgAAMEMkJO0hPiYAADBDKCTtIT7uAQAAgD80AACAPzY2lNc8OAAAAEI6NpRXPzwAAABCPjaUVz9AAACgQEKivAY+RAAAoEBGorwGPioAALZCLAAAtkIuAAA4QjAAADhCSAAAQEJKAABAQgAEcg BjAHcAcwDHCiPO7b/NFBAHIbAiAACAPzIAABhCAgAAgD8SAACAPxZ6h2s6FAAgi0QYAACAPxoAwG9EHCCUXD8eAMBvRCAglFw/IgAAGUMk+MMMPiYAABlDKPjDDD7sAQAAgD/uAQAAgD80AACAPzY2lNc8OAAAAEI6NpRXPzwAAABCPjaUVz9AAACgQEKivAY+RAAAo EBGorwGPioAAOhCLAAA6EIuAAC4QTAAALhBSAAAsEFKAACwQQARZABpAHIAZQBjAHQAbwByACAAcgBlAGkAbgBkAGUAcgBzAMcKom3ZwM0UEAcjsCIAAIA/MgAAGEICAAAAQBIAAIA/FnqH6zoUACCLRBgAAIA/GgAAdkQcL1RiPx4AAHZEIC9UYj8iAAD+QiRrsOk9 JgAA/kIoa7DpPewBAACAP+4BAACAPzQAAIA/NjaU1zw4AAAEQjrYUF4/PAAABEI+2FBeP0AAAIBAQjaU1z1EAACAQEY2lNc9KgAAgD8sAACAPy4AALhCMAAAuEJIAACAP0oAAIA/TAAAYEFOAABgQQATcAByAG8AcABlAHIAdAB5ACAAdABhAHgAIABiAHUAcgBkAGU AbgDHCsmdScHNFBAHIbAiAACAPzIAABhCAgAAQEASAACAPxabpTA7FAAgi0QaAMB+RBwQYWo/HgDAfkQgEGFqPyIAALZCJFFypz0mAAC2QihRcqc97gEAAIA/NAAAgD82NpTXPDgAAARCOthQXj88AAAEQj7YUF4/QAAAgEBCNpTXPUQAAIBARjaU1z0qAAAQQiwAAB BCLgAAYEIwAABgQkgAAJhBSgAAmEFMAADAQU4AAMBBAAVnAHUAZQBzAHMAxwpykIbAzRQQByGwIgAAgD8yAAAYQgIAAIA/EgAAgD8WeodrOhQAIItEGgDggkQcxdFwPx4A4IJEIMXRcD8iAACCQiSYNW89JgAAgkIomDVvPe4BAACAPzQAAIA/NjaU1zw4AAAEQjrYU F4/PAAABEI+2FBeP0AAAIBAQjaU1z1EAACAQEY2lNc9KgAAgEIsAACAQi4AAPBBMAAA8EFIAACAP0oAAIA/TAAA8EFOAADwQQAHZwBhAHMAIAB0AGEAeADHCnq1IcHNFBAHIbAiAACAPzIAABhCAgAAAEASAACAPxZ6h+s6FAAgi0QaAMCERBwBRXQ/HgDAhEQgAUV0 PyIAAERCJLlTND0mAABEQii5UzQ97gEAAIA/NAAAgD82NpTXPDgAAARCOthQXj88AAAEQj7YUF4/QAAAgEBCNpTXPUQAAIBARjaU1z0qAACeQiwAAJ5CLgAAYEEwAABgQUgAAIBBSgAAgEFMAABgQU4AAGBBABdwAHIAbwBwAG8AcwBlAGQAIAByAG8AYQBkACAAdQB zAGEAZwBlACAAdABhAHgAxwp+V0zBzRQQBx+wIgAAgD8yAAAYQgIAAIBAEgAAgD8WeodrOxQAIItEGAAAQD8aAECGRByXB3c/HgBAhkQglwd3PyIAAAxCJBfOAD0mAAAMQigXzgA97AEAAEA/7gEAAIA/NAAAgD82NpTXPDgAAARCOthQXj88AAAEQj7YUF4/QAAAgE BCNpTXPUQAAIBARjaU1z0qAAC2QiwAALZCSAAA4EFKAADgQQAUZQBhAHIAbABpAGUAcwB0ACAAYwBvAG4AdgBlAG4AaQBlAG4AYwBlAMcKXYYdwc0UEAcfsCIAAIA/MgAAGEICAAAAQBIAAIA/FnqH6zoUACCLRBoAAIhEHPE/ej8eAACIRCDxP3o/IgAAuEEkX0mpP CYAALhBKF9JqTzuAQAAgD80AACAPzY2lNc8OAAACEI6eQ1lPzwAAAhCPnkNZT9AAABAQEIor6E9RAAAQEBGKK+hPSoAACBBLAAAIEEuAACIQTAAAIhBSAAAIEFKAAAgQQAbYwBvAG0AbQBpAHMAcwBpAG8AbgBlAHIAIABkAHUAZABsAGUAeQAtAG4AbwBsAGUAdAB0 AGUAxwowK/jAzRQQByOwIgAAgD8yAAAYQgIAAABAEgAAgD8WeofrOhQAIItEGAAAgD8aAOCIRBwe3Hs/HgDgiEQgHtx7PyIAAIBBJHqHazwmAACAQSh6h2s87AEAAIA/7gEAAIA/NAAAgD82NpTXPDgAAAhCOnkNZT88AAAIQj55DWU/QAAAQEBCKK+hPUQAAEBARii voT0qAACIQSwAAIhBLgAAIEEwAAAgQUgAAKBASgAAoEBMAAAgQU4AACBBAA1lAG0AYQBpAGwAIABhAGQAZAByAGUAcwBzAMcK3QYhwc0UEAchsCIAAIA/MgAAGEICAAAAQBIAAIA/FnqH6zoUACCLRBoAAIpEHA/ufT8eAACKRCAP7n0/IgAA4EAkihbOOyYAAOBAKI oWzjvuAQAAgD80AACAPzY2lNc8OAAACEI6eQ1lPzwAAAhCPnkNZT9AAABAQEIor6E9RAAAQEBGKK+hPSoAANBBLAAA0EEuAACAPzAAAIA/SAAAYEFKAABgQUwAAIA/TgAAgD8ACXQAaABhAG4AawAtAHkAbwB1AMcK1/oCwM0UEAcZsCIAAIA/MgAAGEICAACAPxIAA IA/FnqHazoUACCLRBgAAIA/GgBgikQctZ5+Px4AYIpEILWefj8iAACgQCSsNJM7JgAAoEAorDSTOzQAAIA/NjaU1zw4AAAMQjobyms/PAAADEI+G8prP0AAAABAQjaUVz1EAAAAQEY2lFc9ABBqAGUAZgBmAGUAcgBzAG8AbgAgAGMAbwB1AG4AdAB5AMcKKIHAwM0U EAcRsCIAAIA/MgAAGEICAAAAQBIAAIA/FnqH6zoUACCLRBgAAIA/GgDgikQcPIp/Px4A4IpEIDyKfz80AACAPzY2lNc8OAAAFEI6XkN5PzwAABRCPl5DeT8AAA==", "@type": "KeyPhraseExtraction", "@context": "http://schema.microsoft.com", "@EntityId": "3bbe3865-98b5-4031-a064-15ca86a1d7d2", "@extractionTimeUtc": "2025-01-08T16:29:26.7129936Z" } ]