“Major challenge” in 22.4% increase in the cost of employee health coverage
By Stan Matthews
County Website and Communications Program Manager
San Juan County Administrator Pete Rose began his budget message [to the County Council on Oct. 18] by saying, “A funny thing happened on the road to recovery” and proceeded on through nine pages of bad news.
He noted that the 2012 will be the County’s fourth consecutive year of cutbacks and the workforce in the County’s general fund departments, which have been reduced from 154 to 131.3 over the past four years will probably shed another three full-time equivalent jobs.
“We have spent three years trying to hold the core of the county government together,” Rose said. “We are not able to do that in this budget. Previous reductions have harmed the effectiveness of the county organization. The reductions proposed in this budget harm the organization itself and its capacity to deliver its services in the affected departments.”
He added that the cutbacks are “Destined to frustrate citizens and burn out staff.”
The County’s economy has not rebounded as quickly as anticipated. The County’s share of the Retail sales tax has dropped from $4.02 million in 2008 to a projected $3.56 million in 2011. At the beginning of the 2011 budget year, the County anticipated $1.17 million in building and land use permit revenue and has to reduce that estimate by nearly 40%.
On the expense side, Rose noted that a major challenge is a 22.4% increase in the cost of employee health coverage. He said that the County is working with the employees’ unions and insurance providers to try to reduce costs, but at this point it is a cost increase that will has to be included in the budget.
On the positive side, he said that the Parks and Fair Department continues to be self-supporting, beyond the amount earmarked for it in the levy lid lift, the Noxious Weed Board is able to function within the constraints of its parcel tax and – because of conservative financial planning – the Land Bank will have its REET-supported bonds retired by the end of 2014, despite a drop of nearly 70% in income from its Real Estate Excise Tax (REET).
Within the Public Works Department, the Roads Fund, which provides road and marine access services on seven islands, continues to shrink its staff. The Road staff numbered 49 in 2008. By the end of 2011 it had the equivalent of 38 full time positions.
In closing, Rose noted that Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, filed for bankruptcy last week. “Harrisburg made decisions when times were good that did not play when times were bad,” he said. “Now, when times are less than good, we must be sure that our decisions make sense now and in the future.”
The Council will hear additional budget presentations from department heads, and conduct public hearings and deliberations before November 29, when it is scheduled to adopt the 2012 County budget.
The 2012 Preliminary Budget Book is available online at: https://sanjuanco.com/
Times are tough. Pete Rose, Department Managers and The Council have tough decisions to make for 2012. Are we sure we are receiving all the Sales Tax due from the State Revenue Department? OK, but are we really sure? When the appliance repair guy comes over from Anacortes to do work on Orcas Island, does he report the sales tax on payment received to the state as originating in San Juan County or does he just lump it in with all the rest of his revenue and report it as work having been done in Skagit County? Why don’t we have a procedure that monitors work done in our County? The sales tax reporting forms have a place for work done outside “home” county.
And.. look out for this. How can County recover sales tax on items purchased by everyone on Internet. If you have a UBI number the purchases are audited but the rest….. Wow!
Maybe we need a watchdog committee to look into some of these cracks. Every little bit…..
Charlie B
Deer Harbor