— by Margie Doyle —
Mike Thomas, left, and Nick Jones debate San Juan County Proposition 1
County Proposition 1 on the November election ballot would renew taxes to fund Senior Services, Parks, Extension Services (including 4-H), Victim Services, Public Health and Corrections in San Juan County. The Proposition was established in 2009 as the County struggled to fund programs.
County Manager Mike Thomas spoke in favor of the passage of Proposition 1 at the LWV Voters Forum on Orcas, Oct. 8. Nick Jones, Lopez Island businessman (Jones Family Farms) countered Thomas’ arguments.
Thomas said that although some $11M per year is now generated by taxes, to continue the services as they exist today will cost $5 to $7 per month for the average homeowner, upon passage of the proposition. The question is whether to continue to fund these programs at the current level, Thomas asserted.
Jones said that the levy, which he supported in 2009, then generated $40M and now generates $60M per year. The question before voters, he said, is not whether we value community government services, but what is the reasonable size and growth rate for San Juan County. The county needs “root and branch” reform, Jones said. Proposition 1 is not a t huge increase, he said, but it is cumulative and the broader question is “how is the county spending its money?”
Thomas said that county government “is a creature of the state” with mandated services such as 24/7 emergency dispatch, health services, and the like. “If we really look at [county] expenditures, we will see they’re declining about four percent a year.”
Jones said that county expenses have been growing faster than the growth rate: “We spend 3 times more per capita than comparable counties.”
Thomas argued that the cost of doing business in the county must also be factored into the expenses.
In response to a question about the impact of a “no” vote on Proposition 1 and whether the county would make budget cuts “incrementally or wholesale,” Thomas cited the cuts since 2009 to staff, buildings and equipment.
Jones claimed the infrastructure for a county our size is “incredible,” that while revenue grows by one to two percent, expenditures grow five to six percent. “It’s a bad situation, with or without this tax.”
While he agreed with Jones that county government “does have a problem” in its infrastructure, Thomas said that the question before voters now is the proposition on the ballot, to levy dedicated funds.”
We need not vote on this proposition this year. It was supposed to be temporary, remember? And now, it’s being proposed for renewal a year earlier than necessary. This is not a senior services/4-H/emergency services levy. The County decided to put those services on the chopping block, knowing that we all respond to them as a necessary part of our county life. What about the other $50 million? Why has the County done nothing to seek legislative approval of a GMA waiver that would allow us to do simpler updates than the massively expensive ones we must do now? Several rural counties have gotten those waivers. Why not us? Keep in mind that the County has signed on to a group that is considering eliminating the ceiling on real estate taxes, and is also proposing to renew and expand the “stormwater” utility taxes. It’s time someone outside the County echo chamber outside took a look at the County budget. Our county is blessed with successful business people, active and retired, who could bring some common sense to this problem.
So: “…county expenses have been growing faster than the growth rate: “We spend 3 times more per capita than comparable counties.” Well, surprise, surprise….when we all want more and more tourists, we need an infrastructure that will handle them too(not just residents)and that cost lots of money to build and then just use during the summer months…yes tourists costs us money! Merry
Good point, Merry. The late South Burn researched & wrote extensively about the realities of a tourism-based economy. A very good case can be made that tourism actually COSTS more than it delivers for the majority of residents of an area. Nevertheless, I am going to vote for Proposition 1. The programs it funds are those which make life a little bit better, and nobody else but the government (that is to say, US) is going to make them happen.