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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO:
Board of Commissioners
FROM:
Philip Morley, County Admini.trato
DATE:
August 2,2010
RE:
Continued Discussion of County Finances and Public Service Options
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
On August 2, the County Commissioners will continue discussion of county finances. A
growing gap between General Fund expenditures and revenues requires significant and
difficult reductions to public services and programs. Commissioners will continue discussion
of potentially giving citizens a choice of whether they wish the county to make those cuts to
public services, or whether they wish to provide funding to retain some programs and services.
ANALYSIS:
On July 26, 2010 the Board of County Commissioners heard an update on a five-year budget
projection for the county's General Fund. The July 26 presentation outlined a budget deficit
starting in 201 I and growing thereafter because of the lengthened duration of the great
recession. long-term structuraI constraints on property taxes that loses ground to routine
inflation in costs to the county to continue existing services.
Based on current trends, the General Fund for 20 11 shows a $900,000 shortfall between
revenues and expenditures, which grows each year thereafter. In order to balance the budget,
the County is looking at ways to retain valuable services while balancing the budget. On July
19, the County Commissioners adopted a 2010 Strategic Plan to help guide our work to make
the most of the resources we have and to find additional efficiencies. In 2011 we are freezing
noli-union and elected salaries at 2010 levels wherever statutorily permitted, and we are
negotiating with our unions to limit the growth of all other wages in 201 I as well. Even with
success in these areas, substantial cuts to county programs and services are still required.
The Commissioners are considering two options for allowing the public to vote on whether to
restore some. but not all of the necessary cuts to public services:
1. A public safety sales tax of 0.3% (thirty cents on a $100 purchase); or
2. A property tax levy lid lift.
On July 28, the Board held a meeting with the Elected Officials and Department heads to
discuss these options for giving voters a choice between cutting or funding some public
services. The Department Directors and Elected Officials have been asked to identify a
$615,000 subset of necessary cuts to programs and levels of services that we may allow the
public to consider restoring with additional funding by voter approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: A ballot measure, if enacted by the voters, would provide additional
revenues to allow the County to keep or restore some critical services that otherwise need to be
reduced in order to balance the budget.
RECOMMENDATION: Provide staff direction for preparing a ballot measure proposal for
consideration by the Board of County Commissioners on August 9, 2010.
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