LWVSJ Observer Corps: County Council February 27, 2024

||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OBSERVER CORPS |||

The Council adopted a resolution to purchase property at 545 Park St. from Banner Bank. The building will be renovated to provide office space for staff now working in unsafe buildings. After a public hearing the Council approved selling property at 915 Spring St., formerly occupied by Public Works, to the SJI Conservation District. The funds will offset the cost of the Beaverton Valley facility. The Council Approved the extension of an LTAC grant to the Lopez Island Grange.

Budget analyst Molly Foote reviewed the final budget results for 2023, in which revenue came in at $79.8 million, 92% of the budgeted amount and expenditure at $73.5 million, which was 69% of the budgeted amount. The ending cash was updated and used for the beginning cash for the 2024-2025 biennial budget, which had been cut to project cash reserves at the statutory minimum by end 2025. That leaves about $735k of spare cash to meet additional budget needs. The budget committee will provide the Council with a list of prioritized budget requests which the Council will review at the March 12 meeting.

The Sheriff provided a review of operations for 2023, which covered the numbers of calls of citations and of arrests for misdemeanors and felonies and report on the use of force. Drunk driving is on the increase. The Sheriff’s Office has increased training, but faces serious staffing issues, especially on Orcas Island. Housing is among the serious barriers to attracting staff. The sheriff highlighted the litigation risk of inadequate jail facilities and the inability to closely monitor jail occupants at night.

The state legislative session focused on the budget is wrapping up. It looks like efforts to provide more funding for special education and for maintenance and supplies will move forward. For the ferries there are significant differences between the senate and house versions, with the house version providing less money for a passenger-only ferry study and without funds being earmarked for San Juan County. Now is the time to push for the senate version in the budget reconciliation process.

Council member Wolfe was in Washington with the National Association of Counties program and learned about how to advocate for earmarks. There may be possible federal funding available for ports to reduce emissions including by converting fleets to electric vehicles and money for solar panels on county buildings. The county will be interviewing applicants for the director of the Department of Community Development. The county administrator position is now being advertised and will close in early March.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.