It’s something out of a public official’s bad dreams.
With a $1 million budget deficit looming in the distance, San Juan County’s financial woes were the main topic of discussion at Eastsound’s recent town hall meeting.
“This isn’t fun for anyone,” Councilman Richard Fralick said. “It’s the kind of thing you wake up at 3 a.m. thinking about.”
Fralick hosted the afternoon session with Councilman Gene Knapp, County Administrator Pete Rose, and Auditor Milene Henley.
The meeting featured several presentations by the county staff, including updates on the Sutton Road transfer station, revision of the Critical Areas Ordinance, street peddling and sign ordinances, and the Mt. Baker road improvement project.
But the discussion centered around the county’s financial woes. County officials are planning to chop $1 million or more out of the 2009 budget based primarily on first-quarter results.
The county entered the year with a overall budget of $51 million. The general fund, which covers the bulk of daily operations (excluding those of Public Works and the Land Bank) comprises $13.9 million.
Henley said that sales-tax and property-tax revenues seem to be staying on track with the projections, but it’s the other one-third of the general fund’s revenue sources – licenses and permits, fines and forfeitures, charges for goods and services and interest on investments and cash – that is causing the problem.
“If we don’t do adjustments right now, we will fall off a cliff in 2010,” Rose said.
The Community Development and Planning Department has already laid off four employees since the start of this year. Fralick said the county is currently concentrating on the expenditure side to make cuts, but he also mentioned the possibility of a boost in revenue if voters were to approve a property tax levy lift.
The county is also conducting a study to compare what employees in counties of similar size are paid as a potential tool for cutting costs.
“In difficult times, it’s an opportunity to restructure,” Fralick said. “We can do things we probably wouldn’t do in other times.”
Rose will bring a recommendation to the council no later than June 5, outlining how he proposes to make the $1 million in reductions.
Sutton Road Transfer Station
County officials also discussed expansion of the San Juan Transfer Station, a decision that prompted the resignation of a longtime advisory group member.
In a 4-1 decision, the County Council recently selected Sutton Road, the site of the existing transfer station, as its top choice for the future home of an improved and, perhaps someday, expanded solid-waste facility.
Failures at the Sutton Road site, future construction and improvement costs and ensuring that the island has just one solid-waste operation weighed heavily into the decision.
The Solid Waste Advisory Committee recommended the Beaverton Valley Road site, a 27-acre, appropriately zoned piece of land with flat terrain. Sutton Road was its third choice, because the majority of the town-owned land consists of a capped landfill and ash-fill, steeper terrain, and has only seven acres available.
Orcas Island’s George Post, who operates the recycling center at the Orcas transfer station known as The Exchange, was a long-time member of SWAC. He read a letter of resignation during the meeting.
“This was your opportunity to lead a sustainable future … I am deeply saddened by this decision,” he said.
Critical Areas Ordinance
San Juan County was due to revise its Critical Areas Ordinance in 2006, but missed the deadline, as did numerous cites and counties across the state. The county council appointed 10 islanders to a citizens’ review committee to revise the local regulations aimed to protect local streams, slopes, wetlands and buffer zones. That process is finally coming to a close, and the committee hopes to submit a draft to the county soon. It will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, June 17 at 3:45 p.m. in the Eastsound Fire Station to collect public input.
Audience member John Evans, who is on the citizens’ review committee, said the new ordinance will have serious implications for landowners in regards to setbacks, buffers, and more.
“There’s some big stuff coming down the pike here,” he said.
Street peddling/sign ordinances
Knapp spoke briefly about the street peddling and sign ordinances, saying that neither would probably be done before the summer. He is in favor of establishing a “no street peddling” ordinance and lifting the ban on sandwich board signs, which the Eastsound Subarea plan prohibits.
Fralick concurred, saying, “The sign ordinance, as it is now, is not working for the community.”
One option the council is considering is one or two large “directory” signs that list businesses and where they are located.
The Washington State County Road Administration Board awarded San Juan County a $2.5 million grant – the largest grant it’s ever given – to fund the reconstruction of Mount Baker Road on Orcas, between mile posts 0 and 1.1. The Public Works project includes acquiring additional right of way, widening the pavement surface, adding shoulders on each side of the road, and making drainage improvements.
The grant requires a 10 percent county match – approximately $250,000. Public works estimates the four-month project will begin 2012.
Fralick and Knapp intend to hold town hall meetings quarterly. Rose encouraged the community to check out www.sanjuanco.com, where videos of council meetings will be posted starting June 8.
