Welcome to Skagit County

December 11th, 2006

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVE 2007 GENERAL FUND BUDGET
Will use banked capacity to meet criminal justice needs

SKAGIT COUNTY – The Skagit County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously today to pass a $47 million General Fund Budget. Earlier this month, the board held a public hearing and discussed a list of supplementary budget requests to be considered with available revenues.

To meet criminal justice needs in the 2007 budget, the board decided to utilize $762,000 of banked property tax. Skagit County government is limited to a one percent annual increase in property tax, but is allowed to use “banked capacity” that wasn’t taken in prior years. These revenues will allow Skagit County to add two Sheriff Patrol Deputies, two Sheriff Correction Deputies, a part-time District Court Commissioner, a Legal Assistant and a Planning Civil Attorney in the Prosecutor’s Office.

“We don’t take using our past banked capacity lightly, but our criminal justice system in Skagit County can’t wait to fill these positions,” said Skagit County Board of Commissioners Chair Ken Dahlstedt. “This decision is in the public’s best interest and is good utilization of these tax dollars.”

Utilizing the banked capacity will cost Skagit County property owners approximately 6.57 cents per thousand of assessed property assessment, or $16.43 per year on a home valued at $250,000, according to Budget Director Trisha Logue.

Skagit County’s budget picture turned out to be a little rosier than anticipated due to a record rate of new construction and 9.69 percent growth in sales tax.

Other items added from the supplemental budget included $337,000 to upgrade technology, including an upgrade for the Spillman software system that will provide redundancy for local law enforcement agencies.

Under Administrative Services, the Commissioners voted to cut a deputy clerk position and to retain the Natural Resource Lands Policy Coordinator position.

All three Commissioners favored utilizing the availability of the banked capacity property tax revenue to address criminal justice needs. “I agree we need to use our banked capacity dollars for criminal justice and to upgrade technology,” said Commissioner Don Munks.

“I am very pleased we are maintaining the Natural Resource Coordinator at the current level,” said Commissioner Ted Anderson. “We are very dependent on timber revenues.”

For further information, contact: Dan Berentson
360-419-3461