HomeMy WebLinkAbout011525 email - More Potential New Taxes Coming out of Olympia_ and Sponsored by an Olympic Peninsula Rep_ and Tax revenue spending efficienciesALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Commissioners Eisenhour, Brotherton, and Dudley-Nolette,
In previous emails that I sent to you, I talked about the cumulative effect that the potential increase in taxes will have on the residents of Jefferson County, in particular, those
that live on the margins, those who barely survive within the lower income bracket challenges of life, and those who are on fixed incomes. I talked about prioritization of spending
as being critically important in how the county's incoming tax dollars are spent/ distributed. And, I talked about the need for cutting within departments and developing better departmental
efficiencies whenever possible; as a frame of reference for this, I talked about how Jefferson County families/ residents must budget their expenditures with the monies that they have
available, and trying hard to not go into, or further into debt. I also talked about how the BOCC needs to be aware that, given fiscal challenges that our county and our state faces
in the future, that taxing our way out of these challenges is not sustainable for most residents, but that higher taxes, given the political climate in our county and the state, would
likely become the method of choice to dealing with budgetary shortfalls. Here is a link to exactly what I had previously mentioned could happen and as I have described in this email:
https://mynorthwest.com/ktth/ktth-opinion/rantz-washington-utility-property-taxes-would-surge-by-3-under-democrats-bill/4028109
In case you didn't see this link or have not read it yet, here is the story about the approach that our to be inaugurated today Governor Bob Ferguson is suggesting regarding not taxing
our way out of the state's fiscal crisis: https://search.app/ApyHxYJ9JJuSdbjv6
One thing I hate to do out of respect for you and the hard working staff at the county is to micromanage decision making and choices regarding departmental operations. But, when I see
what is being proposed in the way of new taxes, there are some things I feel compelled to mention and to speak out about. A few years ago, the county purchased an excavator style, steel
track frame side-arm roadside brush cutting machine. Prior to this machine, the machine of choice seemed to be the tractor frame rubber tired side-arm roadside brush cutting machine.
I could not understand the logic of switching to the excavator machine, as this machine is significantly slower, maybe by as much as 50% slower than the rubber tired machine. The excavator
machine also requires that the machine be transported to the area of choice via a flatbed trailer, requiring more crew time and more fuel, i.e. more costs for mobilization. For clarification,
I have included links depicting the two types of machine.
Here are the links: RMB Boom Mowers and PT5 - Bush Hog <https://bushhog.com/boom_mowers/rmb-boom-mowers/> Mini Excavator Brush Cutter Attachment | Blue Diamond <https://www.skidsteers.com/brus
h-cutter-heavy-duty-mini-excavator-blue-diamond/>
As I stated, aside from the mobilization disparity, the amount of roadway that the tractor framed machine can brush-cut in a day would be twice what the excavator framed machine can
accomplish. The excavator machine, with its steel tracks, also creates far greater wear and tear to the predominantly chip sealed roads than a rubber tired machine will do.
So, the logic of the purchase base on overall productivity and efficiency is not understood. This is where it is completely necessary, especially in lieu of revenue shortfall and your
desire to raise taxes, for you to micromanage all funding expenditures within the entire county budget, and, if possible, improve efficiencies and make cuts where possible. You are
the stewards of our taxes, which is a heavy responsibility, but we, as taxpayers, expect the highest degree of attention when it comes to the effective and efficient spending of our
hard earned dollars.
Thanks for your attention to these concerns as always.
On a side note, I have not seen the draft of the JAC aquatic center survey questions posted anywhere on the Jefferson County, WA website or the JAC website. Could you please post that
draft and/ or send it to me directly. Thank-you!
Mark L Grant
Jefferson County