SAN JUAN COUNTY

No easy answers for county budget woes

posted 10/20/04
Sales tax revenue dropped 7 percent in July 2004 compared to July 2003. Declining revenue and higher costs are forcing the San Juan County Board of Commissioners to make hard choices. Suggestions on how to cut at least $720,000 out of next year's budget ranged from reduced work weeks for county employees, no county funds for youth recreation programs, and staff cuts in several departments.

Commissioner Rhea Miller read her list of cuts which totaled $708,000. She would cut one position from Juvenile Services, the manager from Buildings and Grounds, and one position from Central Services. The Prosecutor's budget would be reduced by $60,000, Health and Community Services and the Community Development and Planning Dept would each be cut $65,000.

She recommended a 10 percent cut in commissioner's pay and reduction of staff in the BOCC office. The $18,000 that the county gives to Island Rec could be dropped she said, since voters on San Juan Island passed a levy for recreational programs.

Commissioner Darcie Nielsen disagreed with the cut to Island Rec. She believed if the youth budget was dropped for one island, it should be dropped for all islands. If all three programs were dropped the county would save $42,000.

Nielsen recited her own list of cuts which totaled more than $1 million. Departments were cut either 5, 10 or 15 percent. The rates were applied based on the importance of the various departments to the county's core mission.

Evans favored an across the board 10 percent cut to all the departments. If that was done the county would save $960,000.

The discussion will continue at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 26, 2004 in the county Courthouse. The BOCC will need to make their decisions at that time on how much to cut each department.

County revenue up less than expected
except hotel/motel tax

posted 05/19/04
Revenue for San Juan County's current (general) expense fund is up 1.4 percent over the first four months of 2003. Auditor Si Stephens said if the trend continues, the county may have to make changes to the 2004 budget expectations.

Sales tax is down 6 percent. In the first quarter of 2003, $721,740 was collected compared to $679,096 in 2004. Treasurer Kathleen Turnbull pointed out if an anomaly - sales tax from a boat sale which wasn't originally credited to the county - is taken out, the sales tax increased 2.6 percent in 2004 compared to 2003. She noted research done by treasurer's office staff has resulted in an additional $188,000 in sales tax being credited to San Juan County in the past year.

It appears the county's tourist promotion program is having an effect, Stephens said. Lodging tax is up 13 percent over the first quarter of 2003. In 2004, $42,841 was collected compared to $37,774 in the first quarter of 2003. The county imposed an additional 2 percent hotel/motel tax beginning in October 2002. The proceeds are used to fund the San Juan County Visitor Bureau.

Sales tax collections run two months behind. So the figures actually reflect taxes collected November-February.

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