Washington County budget cuts spending

Don Behm

Nov. 4, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- WEST BEND -- Washington County would spend $7.36 million less next year than this year, as part of a proposed $118.38 million budget for 2010.

Most of the decrease -- $6.47 million -- would come from cutting the annual list of major construction projects and equipment purchases to its smallest size in recent years, County Administrative Coordinator Doug Johnson said. Some projects were deferred for a year or more.

Planned remodeling of the Public Agency Center was delayed until 2011 and construction of a Sheriff's Department evidence storage building was deferred until 2012. As a result, total capital spending was whittled down to slightly less than $2.96 million in 2010.

Total spending on daily operations declines by $889,102 in the proposed budget.

One reason for the drop is the decision not to provide pay raises for county employees next year, Johnson said. There will be no wage increases for managers and none for non-union workers.

In negotiations with eight unions representing other employees, the county has asked them to voluntarily accept the same amount of pay in 2010 as next year.

The Deputy Sheriff's Association has agreed to forgo a traditional cost of living pay raise next year, Johnson said.

If all the other unions do not embrace the same concession in ongoing negotiations, the county would consider layoffs or furloughs to achieve its budget, he said.

The County Board is scheduled to adopt the spending plan Thursday evening after a final public hearing.

A county property tax levy of $37.37 million, up 2.1% from this year, is needed to help pay for the proposed 2010 budget.

The levy would be generated with a countywide tax rate of $2.77 per $1,000 of equalized valuation, six cents higher than this year.

The owner of a $200,000 home would pay the county around $554 for 2010, up $12 from this year.

At Thursday's meeting, County Supervisor Marilyn Merten of Polk will ask the board to restore $65,000 of the $95,000 that the board's Finance Committee cut from the county Historical Society's budget for next year, Merten said. The motion, if approved, would provide the society a total of $160,000 in county funds next year.

The additional spending would require raising the tax rate by less than half of one cent, adding about $1 to the county tax bill for the owner of a $200,000 home.

In addition to the countywide tax, a separate rate of $0.233 per $1,000 -- nearly five cents higher than this year -- will be levied on property owners in municipalities without libraries. The resulting levy of $1.6 million will be distributed to communities with libraries to pay them for providing services to other county residents.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0130-39449767