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Y I S L A N D , W A S H I N G T O N :
Democrats take over, women
in majority on Board of Commissioners; assess impact on the rest
of the globe here.
Island
County budget gap now tops $2 million
By BRIAN KELLY, South Whidbey Record Editor
Today, March 12, 2009, 11:14 AM · UPDATED
Island County’s budget gap is now expected to top $2 million, double
the amount that left county leaders scrambling for solutions when the
financial crisis was discovered early last month. The deficit —
originally pegged at $1 million — is now nearing the size of last
year’s budget hole, which was filled with employee layoffs that
resulted in the elimination of 31 jobs. The county board of
commissioners has sent a memo to department heads and other elected
officials, asking them to look at reductions in public services between
5 percent and 20 percent.
Commissioner John Dean said the dramatic drop in investment revenues,
combined with shrinking revenues from sales taxes and planning and
environmental health fees, were to blame. The main culprit remains the
staggering national economy, which has devastated the housing industry
and spooked consumer spending.
“We have no control over it,” Dean said, adding that the shortfall
estimate was just that, an estimate.
“It could go higher depending on what happens in the world,” said
Commissioner John Dean. “It is our best guess at this point.”
“People are not going out and spending. People are not buying homes,”
he said. “And all the interest rates have bottomed out.”
Budget Director Elaine Marlow said planning and environmental health
fees have fallen 50 percent, and sales tax revenues are down as well.
“Sales taxes are tracking about 10 percent lower than projected,”
Marlow said.
Though the budget gap appears to be closer to $1.8 million at this
point, county officials are looking to cut $2 million from the county
budget. County commissioners have asked department heads and
other elected officials to present ideas for cutting services by
Friday, March 13. The request is the latest round of
brainstorming over the county’s beleaguered budget.
Just after the financial crisis was announced last month, commissioners
met with county employees and asked them to submit ideas via e-mail or
through notes in drop boxes located in county buildings. There
has been no shortage of ideas. More than 75 pages of suggestions have
already been submitted to commissioners from county workers, according
to a Record review of the documents.
The review of e-mails and budget suggestions show county employees are
split over the budget-cutting ideas already on the table, from reduced
workweeks to unpaid furloughs. Others, in their correspondence to
commissioners, share their deep personal concerns about the financial
crisis and their worries about how they will survive if their jobs or
hours land on the cutting block.
“Morale is so low, employees are fearful of how they will take care of
themselves, their families or even if they will have a job,” one county
employee told commissioners in an e-mail. “The real fear is they will
have both hours and pay cuts.”
“It is unfair to ask most of the people to do more work with less time
for less pay,” another employee wrote.
“Three women in my department are single and already struggle to simply
just get by,” she continued. “I am pained to watch people in the
assessor’s office have to move into smaller houses, lose family pets,
worry about car payments...”
Some suggested across-the-board pay cuts of 5 percent for department
heads and elected officials: “It has to hurt us all.”
Other county employees have pointed to the disparity between
departments that will occur when the budget ax falls.
“I wish to go on record as saying that before I would vote to cut my
pay and hours, I would want to have it guaranteed that all employees,
represented and not represented employees/elected officials and
non-elected department heads will also place themselves on the cut
list,” one employee wrote.
Many employees focused on potential ways to save money or increase
efficiencies in county government, from bulk purchases of paper and
computer printer ink, to taking away county cars that some employees
drive home at night. Another employee said the county should hold
off on buying new computers, as well as other “peripheral purchases.”
The worker added that when someone suggested doing away with
county-provided Blackberry devices during a department meeting, “Our
‘leader’ kept a very tight lip.”
“Department heads may not need a laptop, a color printer, a personal
scanner,” the employee added.
Other ideas suggested so far include:
A freeze on salaries;
Lowering or eliminating the car allowance for county commissioners;
“Pay to play” for 4-H;
Creating a fee for using county boat ramps;
Enforcing dog tag fees;
Reducing permit fees to spur development that would help the economy,
but doubling fees when the economy improves;
Implementing a hiring freeze.
In the memo recently sent to department heads, commissioners reminded
them to avoid discussing with employees how they would be personally
affected by the budget deficit, and to not ask workers what they could
personally contribute to reducing costs. Commissioner Helen Price
Johnson said the board understands the budget problems are taking a
toll on employees.
“I fully understand the human side of this. It’s an incredibly
stressful time,” she said.
“Island County, as an organization, has been fortunate to have had so
much stability in its finances in years’ past. But that doesn’t exist
now,” Price Johnson said.
Dean, the chairman of the board of commissioners, said they would talk
again Wednesday about the budget during a work session.
He said he will propose cuts to the commissioners’ budget, including
the elimination of the car allowance for commissioners. Commissioners
trimmed the car allowance each commissioner receives annually from
$9,600 to $8,400 during the last round of budget cuts in December.
The move should offset the automatic pay raise that commissioners will
get this year, he said.
Commissioners and other elected officials will receive automatic pay
raises this year; for commissioners, it’s a 5 percent increase.
Dean said that while the state Constitution prevents commissioners from
cutting their pay, and that of other elected officials, commissioners
can make other cuts to their budget.
“I’m sure the other two commissioners are on board,” he added.
Commissioners are expected to set service priorities for the county
before making a final decision on budget cuts.
“In my mind, by the end of April we want to have a pretty clear picture
of where we’re going,” he said.
County officials plan to let employees know as soon as possible about
reductions in staff and services.
“The sooner we can get some answers to people, the better,” he said.
County
budget deficit deepens
By JESSIE STENSLAND, Whidbey News Times Assistant editor
Mar 03 2009, 4:01 PM · UPDATED
A new budget projection by Island County officials dramatically
increases revenue shortfall this year to at least $1.8 million.
Commissioner Helen Price Johnson broke the news to her fellow
commissioners during a budget session Monday afternoon. She then led
them through an exercise to define the values and priorities of Island
County government.
“Our budget is based on what we care about, what our priorities are,”
she said.
A month ago, Treasurer Linda Riffe revised her estimate of interest
earnings downward by $1 million because of the sinking rates. That was
after the commissioners cut 31 positions in December to help fill a $2
million budget hole. For many employees, their last day of work was
last Friday.
Budget Director Elaine Marlow said the new, $1.8 million estimate for
the year’s budget shortfall is based on decreased sales tax and fee
revenues. Sales tax is down 12 percent and permit fees dropped 50
percent, to the year 2000 level.
Marlow warned that the projections are best guesses in a unprecedented
time. “Whether the trend will continue throughout the year, I don’t
think anyone knows,” she said.
Marlow said the $1.8 million projected shortfall in the $25.5 million
general fund budget doesn’t include a drop in revenues coming into
public health, which hasn’t been estimated yet. She said it will
probably amount to “several hundred thousand below projection.”
Price Johnson, who’s taken the lead in the budget among the
commissioners, laid out a general schedule for the budget process. In
March, they will set priorities and develop budget targets. In April,
they will reassess financial trends while state lawmakers complete
their session. In May, they will adjust the budget once they know how
much funding will come from the state.
During this time, the commissioners said they will be conferring with
leaders of the bargaining units, elected officials and department heads.
Price Johnson introduced these draft priorities: open and responsive
government; financial health and economic development; and community
and environmental vitality.
The other commissioners agreed that the priorities were broad enough to
cover everything they are concerned about, from fiscal responsibility
to the quality of life in the county to sustainability.
Marlow said the greatest challenge she sees in the budget process is
that “one size does not fit all” when dealing out cuts to the
departments. Some departments — like the treasurer, assessor and
auditor — may not be able to absorb any more cuts in personnel.
Island County Sheriff Mark Brown attended the meeting with several
others from his office. He asked if the county could simply cut out all
“non-mandated” services, which would include things like the WSU
Extension department and parks. He suggested that volunteers could run
the programs until the economy improves.
Price Johnson, however, pointed out that cutting the non-mandated
program wouldn’t be enough to balance the budget. Human Resources
Director Larry Larson cautioned that volunteers can’t supplant union
jobs.
In the end, the commissioners reaffirmed that all options for balancing
the budget remain on the table.
“The board is certainly not leaning in one direction or another,”
Commissioner John Dean said, referring to rumors circulating about
where cuts will come.
Despite
budget crisis, Island County elected officials to get raises this year
By BRIAN KELLY, South Whidbey Record Editor
Feb 23 2009, 2:20 PM · UPDATED
While some Island County workers wonder about job security, elected
officials in Island County will see fatter paychecks in the coming
year. The reason? A resolution adopted 15 years ago by Island
County commissioners.
A perpetual pay increase for elected officials was adopted on a 2-0
vote in August 1994, by former commissioners Mac McDowell and Mike
Shelton. It granted a 5 percent raise in commissioners’ salaries that
would kick in on every odd-numbered year, and included no “sunset”
date. The resolution also allowed for the salaries of every other
elected official in Island County to be raised on a percentage that was
based on the salary of the commissioners.
In the salary schedule considered at the time, commissioners expected
their salaries would increase by more than $10,000 between 1995 and
2001.
This year, the salary increase for commissioners amounts to a $3,737
raise. The annual salary for a commissioner will move to $78,496 from
$74,758. In 2011, it is expected to climb to $82,421.
The county assessor, auditor, clerk, coroner and treasurer will each
get raises of $3,365 this year. The sheriff will get a $4,112 increase
in salary in 2009.
The county’s prosecuting attorney will get a salary increase of $1,869.
In all, the total raises amount to $33,017. Island County has
been considering additional staff layoffs, as well as reduced hours for
workers, to fill a $1 million hole in the budget. So far, the pay of
elected officials has not entered into the discussion.
Commissioner John Dean said he wasn’t sure if the commissioners could
legally cut the current pay rate for elected officials.
“That’s a good question and something I will have to look into,” he
said.
Commissioner Helen Price Johnson said she was willing to consider pay
reductions in light of the county’s current budget crisis.
“I think we need to look at everything,” Price Johnson said.
Elected officials aren’t the only ones who will earn more money from
Island County in 2009. Union employees in two of the county’s
bargaining units will also get pay raises this year, according to Larry
Larson, director of the county’s human resources department.
Larson could not recall the specific amount of those raises, but said
they were part of contracts approved several years ago, he said.
Island
County looks at furloughs
By BRIAN KELLY, South Whidbey Record Editor
Feb 22 2009, 8:00 AM
Island County officials are hoping workers will agree to cut back on
their hours so the sting won’t be so severe on the next round of
layoffs.
County commissioners met with department heads and line employees last
week to share details on the $1 million budget deficit facing the
county. The new hole in the budget — blamed mostly on the drop in
investment earnings — follows a $2 million budget gap late last year
that was bridged with job cuts. Commissioners began their search for
solutions last week by asking county employees for ideas, and this
week, held a public forum in Oak Harbor that centered largely on the
county’s shrinking budget.
County Commissioner John Dean said one idea making the rounds is for
employees to cut their own hours back so, cumulatively, they could save
the jobs of their coworkers.
It’s proving to be a popular idea beyond Island County. State and local
governments across the Northwest, and the country, have been looking at
unpaid furloughs as they grapple with declining revenues amid a
nationwide recession.
Last week, a group of 60 Kitsap County employees volunteered to give up
8,000 hours, a move that was expected to save $250,000. And earlier in
February, more than 50 employees in Snohomish County agreed to take 10
days off without pay. Talk at the county campus in Coupeville has
turned to furloughs, as well, Dean told The Record after the recent
round of employee meetings.
“I think the best thing that I’m hearing is an interest in everybody
taking some kind of reduction,” Dean said.
Workers are looking for ways to preserve jobs, even with reduced hours,
rather than having departments compete against each other for a
shrinking piece of the revenue pie. It’s an encouraging sign,
Dean said, and reminiscent of the way employees donate their sick leave
to coworkers who need it more. He said he planned to meet with Budget
Director Elaine Marlow about the idea of a focused pay reduction.
“My next step is to get with Elaine and figure out how many hours would
we all have to chip in,” he said. “I don’t know what it would be to
make up a million bucks.”
It’s certainly not a done deal, Dean added.
“The possibility of either a furlough or a reduction in hours,
I don’t know if that’s going to gain traction. There’s certainly some
union issues that I have not even begun to look at,” Dean said.
“Personally, I like the philosophy of everybody taking a small hit so
that nobody gets their job taken out from under them,” he added.
County commissioners eliminated 31 positions in December to bridge a $2
million gap in the 2009 budget, a spending plan that totaled $67.7
million. The cuts included unfilled positions, and a total of 18
workers actually lost jobs. Eleven of those employees were full-time
workers, while seven were part-time.
Commissioners agreed last week to cut public hours for four county
offices in the Courthouse Administration Building in Coupeville,
starting in March. While the reduction is not expected to save money,
it will give employees in the human resources office, and the offices
for county treasurer, county assessor and county auditor more time to
catch up on work without interruption from the public.
County officials have said residents should expect additional cuts in
services in the months ahead. Commissioners have also said a hiring
freeze is not feasible, and that some unfilled jobs that are critical
for county operations will be filled in the future. At the recent
meeting with county employees, commissioners were asked if they thought
part of the county’s current budget troubles stemmed from
commissioners’ historical reluctance to raise taxes.
In a later interview, Dean said no.
“They just didn’t foresee a crisis coming down the pike, at the extent
that we’re in,” Dean said. “I was totally supportive of being frugal.”
“We’ve gone past frugal and into crisis,” he added. “I think this is a
crisis of national proportions that nobody really understood to the
extent that it would hit us.”
Dean said the budget cuts late last year were built on layoffs. The
next round will be different.
“We looked pretty much solely at reduction of staff, mostly because we
didn’t get a lot of support for anything else. This time around,
everything’s back on the table,” he said.
“This is pretty darn serious, to have to turn around just after a
series of layoffs, to turn around and do some more,” Dean said.
“This is really difficult,” added Commissioner Helen Price Johnson.
“There’s going to be some extremely difficult choices about what we
choose not to do for the citizens. At this funding level, we can’t
continue to provide all the services that we do in the way that we have
all become accustomed to,” she said.
“How that is going to play out, I can’t tell you,” Price Johnson said.
“I do know we’re going to look different than when we started.”
“This isn’t just, we’ll hold our breath and we’ll get through it and we
will be OK,” she said. “We are going to undergo some transformational
change.”
Price Johnson said county officials will need to closely examine how
essential services are funded. The county has relied heavily on the
housing industry in the past, with tax revenues from new construction
helping bolster the budget.
“That’s a value question that we as a community need to grapple with;
is that the funding model were comfortable with?” Price Johnson asked.
“This crisis brings that to light in a way that nothing else could
have,” she said.
Budget crisis cuts county office hours
By JESSIE STENSLAND
Whidbey News Times Assistant editor
Today, 2:24 PM · UPDATED
Beginning in March, anyone going to the administration building of the
Island County campus in Coupeville won’t be able to get in the door
before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
There will be “a nice big sign that announces the office is closed due
to the budget crisis,” Island County Commissioner John Dean said
Wednesday. Currently, the building that houses human resources, the
treasurer, the assessor, the auditor and the commissioners’ office are
open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county offices in other buildings —
including the sheriff, prosecutor, planning, health — will remain on
the 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule.
The move will allow the bare-bones staff in the administrative building
departments to have “desk time” to finish paperwork before dealing with
the public. County staff has been reduced by 31 positions with all of
those employees leaving by the end of February, allowing the county’s
$67.7 million 2009 budget to balance after a projected $2 million
shortfall.
Now the county is facing an additional $1 million shortfall because of
a drop in revenue from investments, which will likely result in more
layoffs later in the year.
The commissioners, elected officials and department heads held a
roundtable meeting Wednesday to discuss the change in hours.
In addition, they talked about whether to have a hiring freeze as
neighboring counties have done. The commissioners ultimately decided
against it, noting that replacing some positions may be “absolutely
necessary,” Dean said.
“I don’t think we want to make a big blanket statement,” Commissioner
Helen Price Johnson said.
The commission plans to hire a new planning director to replace Jeff
Tate, who’s leaving at the end of the month. Wednesday morning, the
commissioners discussed spending $10,000 on a consultant to do
professional background checks on the candidates.
Who's in charge? http://www.islandcounty.net/bicc/bicc.htm
Women take over county
Whidbey News Times
By JESSIE STENSLAND
Nov 28 2008, 12:53 PM · UPDATED
Just after 3 o’clock Tuesday, Helen Price Johnson was sworn in
as the first woman to serve as an Island County commissioner. A
crowd of county employees and well-wishers hoping to witness the
historic moment overflowed into the halls of the Law and Justice Center
and burst into cheers as Price Johnson finished her oath. In
an interview, Price Johnson said she was honored to be chosen by voters
to break through this particular glass ceiling.
“It’s good to have reflective representation of the community on
the board,” she said. “My grandmother would be very proud. She was 21
when women earned the right to vote. She always made it clear that the
right was hard-earned and sacred.”
It also may be the first time in county history, or at least in
memory, that the majority of the three-member board are Democrats.
Several Island County old-timers say they can’t remember a time when
Republicans didn’t dominate, though county officials couldn’t say
whether it’s a first. The history-making is
likely not over. The Island County Auditor is conducting a manual
recount in the extremely close contest between 16-year incumbent
Commissioner Mac McDowell and challenger Angie Homola, who’s 50 votes
ahead. If Homola wins, she’ll be the second women
to inhabit the board, which will be made up of three Democrats —
Commissioners John Dean, Price Johnson and Homola. Without a doubt, it
will be the first time the board has been all Democrats.
Price Johnson, along with Auditor Sheilah Crider, were sworn in
immediately after election certification because they won positions
that had been filled by appointees. The rest of the winning candidates
will take office in the new year.
While Price Johnson and Homola admit that changes are in store
for the county — especially if Homola is successful — they agree that
most of the differences will have nothing to do with political parties
or gender. Both women say they were elected by
people who want commissioners to be more open and to listen to their
concerns.
“I bring a more community-oriented attitude toward leadership,”
Price Johnson said. “That’s something John Dean has started and
something Angie talked about in her campaign.”
In fact, Homola said she is considering donating a portion of
her $78,500-a-year salary as commissioner to the county — if she wins —
in order to fund video of the commissioners’ meetings, which could be
accessible over the Internet. She points out that most people can’t
attend meetings because they are during the workday.
“To have a truly open government, it has to be accessible,” she
said.
Members of groups such as Whidbey Environmental Action Network
have felt disenfranchised from county government in the past, but they
are excited by the change in the board. Marianne Edain of WEAN said she
hopes that the commissioners will listen to their concerns and avoid
time-consuming litigation. Homola is known for
being an environmental activist, but she hasn’t proposed any sweeping
changes or even re-opening controversial land-use ordinances, such as
the accident potential zoning. All three Democrats said they would be
cautious about making such a move.
Perhaps the biggest change coming will be forced by the budget
deficit. Not only will the commissioners have to prioritize spending,
but they will have limited resources to devote to projects or programs.
Commissioners have already warned that layoff and spending cuts will
translate to less service to the community.
With the turnover of commissioners, Commissioner Dean will
suddenly become the “old man on the board” after just two years in
office. It’s a role he said he’ll be comfortable with, though he also
expects county government to be different in the future.
“I’m not exactly sure how this is going to play out,” he said.
“Anytime you get fresh perspective and fresh faces, you’re going to get
change. I think there will be a significant change in courthouse
culture.”
With women in the majority, Dean will be the likely benefactor.
Both Price Johnson and Homola have said, half-jokingly, that they plan
to liven up the austere aesthetic of the commissioners’ hearing room
with plenty of homemade cookies and flowers. Dean
expects land-use regulations to swing more toward environmental
protection and for board appointments to reflect a wider range of
interests. But he said people shouldn’t be concerned that Republicans
will be shut out.
“It isn’t about Democrats taking over power,” he said. “It’s not
like we’re going to stomp anyone who doesn’t feel the way we do. I
think we will be able to find middle ground.”