Board of Clark County Commissioners Adopts 2009/2010 Budget

Vancouver, WA – On Thursday, December 4, the Board of Clark County Commissioners adopted the county’s 2009/2010 budget. Totaling $994 million, the budget is down six percent from 2007/2008.

The goal was to preserve services for residents, according to Commissioner Steve Stuart. “We cut costs, saved services, protected public safety and didn’t raise taxes,” he said. “While it’s been a struggle, I think we can turn things around.”

Chair Betty Sue Morris agreed that the budget process was not easy. “Some of it has been remarkably painful,” she said. “This is our worst budget since the early 1980s. We are very sorry that we are having to cut about 150 jobs.”

“It’s hard when you ride the elevator and talk with people personally,” Commissioner Marc Boldt said. “It’s been a rough year, but this is a great county and we’ll get through this.” He encouraged county residents to support local businesses and noted that sales tax revenue is necessary to provide public services in Washington.

“These are real people who serve real people,” said Stuart. “It’s been our goal to keep as many as possible to provide as much service as possible.”

The county has had strict hiring controls in place for several months. The current budget calls for eliminating almost 150 positions, including some that are vacant. Staffing adjustments will begin immediately, to determine the number of people who will be laid off by January. The budget also freezes salaries for management employees and elected officials in 2009.

General Fund Departments under the Board took 12 percent cuts that eliminated almost $6.7 million from their budgets. Law and Justice and other elected officials took cuts of more than $8.16 million, which averaged about four percent of their budgets.

As part of the budget adoption, the Board also passed a resolution to use part of the county’s road fund for Sheriff’s patrols. In budget discussions, the commissioners put an emphasis on providing funding for as many deputies as possible to protect people living, working and visiting in Clark County.

The commissioners also adopted measures to maintain a General Fund balance large enough to demonstrate financial stability, maintain the highest ratings in the bond market and contain the cost of any borrowing in the future. For more information visit http://www.clark.wa.gov/obis/documents.html.