From the Courthouse

Greetings!

 

It's that time of year for ghosts and goblins.  Jack o' lanterns and cobwebs all abound.  Not the least bit unusual to see mummies and zombies walking the streets.     

 

Here's hoping you have plenty of opportunity for hot Apple Cider and many youngsters to help eat the candy.  I'll keep on the look out for those "hidden taxes," "scary resolutions" and "deadly decisions."    

 

"Tricky" Accounting

 

I had a sense something smelled odd with the Freeland Water and Sewer District shortly after arriving in office earlier this year.  I had been watching it from afar for more than a year by then and had never felt comfortable with what the concept was becoming.

 

After hearing many Freelanders speak about the need for sewers but not a third sewer plant and certainly not at a cost of $40M, I cast my "No" vote for the Sub Area plan.

 

Shortly after that, I began questioning at the Council Of Governments (which is the board that recommends some grant funding on capital projects of such) whether we were sure that grant money was being used for proper expenses.

 

That prompted the internal audit that apparently was a little overdue.  Most of you know by now the State Auditor's office faulted Island County with lax oversight on those funds.  I'm just glad their report correctly named my predecessor as Commissioner at that time.        

 

The Budget is No "Treat"

  

Over and over I would say, "this is not the time to be raising taxes," and "it will prolong the recession."  Unfortunately, my words fell on deaf ears.  Next year's budget will include the 1% increase on all three possible funds and the new "Clean Water" Utility District tax.

 

The budget, as I was willing to present, funded many of the same things, excepting the new administrative services director (or whatever the position is being called now).  However, my budgetdid itwhile not increasing taxes at all and cutting the Conservations Futures collections.   

 

Yes, my budget showed tax cuts by not creating the new position and trimming a little further on some non-mandated programs in Public Health and Human Services.   

 

A couple other concerns I have are the anticipated interest revenues and includingthe liquor sales tax.  Last year interest revenue was practically zero and we held the liquor tax aside waiting for the results of the election.  This yearprivatization of liquor is on the ballot once again
 
Scary Savings

 

A couple of past Commissioners had recommended that I look for budget savings in the area of the juvenile detention center.  When I looked there, I did find savingsand so much more.

 

This year we transferred over $400,000 from the general fund to cover the operations of the facility.  The current $1.1M in annual operations cost, doesn't even include the bond payment.

 

So at a COG meeting once again, I brought forth a preliminary proposal to temporarily close the detention center showing $700,000 in savings, (you can view that proposal by clicking here).  The COG showed interest in seeing the measure return in a month.

 

Since that day, I was able to attend a Washington State Association of Counties organized meeting on regional detention facilities.  At that meeting it became apparent that because of some new laws and programs in juvenile justice and decreasing juvenile populations, many Washington counties are facing huge ongoing operational costs for under-utilized juvenile detention facilities.  

 

At that meeting they were not seeking temporary relief as I had been doing, they were talking about statutory reform.  I hope my counterparts will join me and the others in this effort to restore local control.  This antiquated unfunded State mandate, is crippling the local governments.

 

 

 

It is an honor to serve you.

 

Sincerely,

Kelly Emerson

Island County Commissioner - District 3 









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District 3 County Commissioner

Kelly Emerson

 

1 NE 7th Street

PO Box 5000

Coupeville, WA 98239

 

Ph. (360) 679-7354

 

 

 e-mail: 

[email protected] 

 

In This Issue
Tricky Accounting
Budget is no Treat
Scary Savings




Come to meetings

 

Commissioner's Meetings

First 3 Mondays at 10am, Fourth Monday at 2pm

 

Commissioner Workshops 

1st & 3rd Wednesday at 9am

2nd Wednesday at 10am

 

 Click here for meeting agenda information  

 


 

 


What would you like to be informed about?

 

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to let me know.

 



Coastal Counties Conf.

I had some flight credits to use up by the end of the year so I thought I'd join other officials from coastal counties at a national conference in Savannah, GA.

The theme of the conference will be how to use the coastlines for economic vitality.

The National Assoc. of County Officials is picking up most all of the hotel cost so Island County wont need to contribute much at all.

I'll be back in time for Halloween! 
 
Where are the jobs?

Well, Todd Shipyards/Nichols Brothers is trying to bring us more jobs and running into the usual regulatory obstacles. 


Their opening up a second location in Oak Harbor would be a huge win for Island County jobs, and the Navy could definitely use the tenant.


These would be the kind of living wage jobs we so desperately need. It would be so nice to find a way to help them overcome this bureaucratic roadblock.