Commissioners balance budget for 2010 with sharp cuts

Vancouver, WA – Today, the Board of Clark County Commissioners approved a revised budget for 2010, which included cutting $12.5 million from the general fund. By law, the Board is required to readopt the two-year budget by the first full week of December.

With the readoption, Clark County has cut its general fund budget three times for a total of 22 percent, or $62 million, since its peak in the 2007-2008 budget. The cuts eliminated 270 positions, or about 15 percent of the county workforce. About half of the jobs were filled.

The readopted budget preserves five of 14 jail custody officer jobs previously slated for elimination, pending the Clark County Custody Officers Guild’s final agreement to forego a 3.25 percent cost-of-living raise in 2010. Giving up the raise would save the county $325,000 next year and provide money to keep five custody officers employed, if approved as currently proposed.

Similarly, Clark County Sheriff’s Office will use a $250,000, one-time grant to keep seven patrol deputies slated for layoffs on the job until March 31 as the county works to complete contract negotiations with the Deputy Sheriff’s Guild. The county

could prevent some layoffs if the guild will forego cost-of-living raises for 2009 and 2010. The Sheriff would have the authority to use the savings to keep the seven deputies on the road.

The Board also asked the director of Community Development, who oversees Animal Control, to generate additional revenues from dog licensing and work with the Clark County Executive Horse Council on ways to manage issues related to horses.

On the revenue side, the Board voted to maintain the one percent general fund property tax increase allowed by law and originally projected for 2010. Without

such action, that property tax would have decreased. The total increase is estimated to be about $527,000.

“By maintaining this one percent, we will be preserving public safety,” said Commissioner Steve Stuart.

However, the Board rejected potential one percent increases in the Road Fund, Conservation Futures Fund and Metropolitan Parks District levy fund. The commissioners agreed to hold the line on spending in those special funds in light of the difficulties currently confronting local property owners.

In an effort to maintain park services, the Board passed an emergency resolution raising parking fees from $2 to $3 and raising picnic shelter reservation fees. The Board will hold a public hearing on park fees within 60 days, as required by law.

Chair Marc Boldt said the readopted budget sets the county on a different course.

“We will govern differently or we will not survive,” Boldt said. The commissioner has called for a move to more regional services and fewer state mandates.

Earlier in the budget hearings, he said, “I’m calling this a balanced but unsustainable budget.”