November 23, 2021
Skagit County Commissioners present Preliminary 2022 Budget
Today, the Skagit County Commissioners presented the 2022 preliminary budget, available here in full.
The budget was created in collaboration with County department heads and elected officials. The Commissioners strove to limit the number of new general fund positions, programs, and projects in the 2022 budget. Even with limiting new expenses, increasing costs of existing activities have required reserve spending. The budget totals $269 million, with $66 million in general fund expense and $10 million in reserve spending.
The law and justice system accounts for over 70% of the County’s General Fund budget. For 2022, the Commissioners continue to provide adequate funding for this system while investing in programs to limit the cycle of incarceration. Additionally, the 2022 budget includes funding for body-worn cameras for every commissioned officer under the Sheriff, and staffing to manage associated data.
The budget includes a one percent property tax increase, costing the average homeowner between $6.65 and $12.89 per year depending on their location. Revenue from the property tax increase will fund additional staffing to expedite the County’s permitting process and respond to code enforcement complaints.
Chair Lisa Janicki shared her perspective on the increasing demands of local government. “Whether it be the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of cyber-attacks, or sociopolitical change, County government faces increasing demands. For the second year in a row, we have proposed a budget reliant on reserve spending to meet imperative service needs.”
Support from the state and federal government has helped the County weather the storm of the pandemic. Passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has enhanced the County’s public health response. Although the County has several years to allocate and spend this one-time resource, the 2022 budget includes immediate investments in public health response, addressing the pandemic-related court backlog, and dealing with the severe impacts on children and youth.
The 2022 preliminary budget also includes funds to update the County’s strategic plan. County elected officials and department heads are preparing for significant spending reductions in 2023.
“I’m happy to be doing what we’re doing this year, but I don’t believe we can do it in the future”, said Commissioner Ron Wesen. “We expect the 2023 budget process to be particularly challenging, and we are committed to using the updated strategic plan as our guide for where to prioritize investment.”
Commissioner Browning shared similar concerns. “There are going to be some thoughtful reductions over the next few years. We need to be competitive with wages to recruit and retain high-quality employees. But, that’s going to necessitate some focused service reductions based on the strategic plan.”
The Skagit County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. to take feedback, questions, and concerns. Log-in information for this meeting will be on the Commissioners’ website under the agenda calendar. Commissioner discussion and possible action on the final budget will occur on Monday, December 13 at 11:00 a.m.
For questions or additional information, call the Commissioner’s office at 360-416-1300 or email at commissioners@co.skagit.wa.us.
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