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Thurston: Cuts won’t be as difficult for 2010, manager tells commissioners

CHRISTIAN HILL; The Olympian |
• Published October 28, 2009

The proposed 2010 budget presented to Thurston County commissioners Tuesday suggests the worst of the budget crisis is over – for now, at least.

The severity of cuts in employees, programs and services that significantly downsized county government this year won’t be required as part of the $317 million spending plan.

County Manager Don Krupp said that “all the difficult choices made in 2009 have simplified the decision-making in 2010.”

But he warned that financial storm clouds remain on the horizon for 2011 and 2012 as the county weathers economic conditions and limits on revenue in the face of increasing costs.

“There are tougher choices still ahead,” he said.

In his presentation Tuesday, Krupp outlined for the county commissioners the major policy directions used to draft next year’s budget. In the coming weeks, commissioners will hear from department heads, elected officials and the public as they refine and approve the spending plan.

The general fund, or chief operating fund, totals $73.9 million, a 2.2 percent reduction from this year.

The budget calls for eliminating more than 58 full-time-equivalent positions. Krupp said the bulk of those positions are vacant or were eliminated this year and are being formally erased in the 2010 budget.

Krupp said departments met the budget targets as directed by county leaders with the exception of the Sheriff’s Office, which exceeded its target by $616,000. Commissioners will consider a plan proposed by the Sheriff’s Office to close the shortfall in the proposed budget. The two sides are locked in litigation over whether commissioners have the authority to tell the sheriff, an independently elected official, how to manage his budget.

The budget also proposes increases in utility and permitting fees and charges.

The county projects that new construction will continue to decline in 2010. Local government relies on new construction to secure more property tax revenue above the 1 percent cap without having to go to voters. Sales tax revenue will be flat, it predicts.

This year, the county cut nearly 100 full-time-equivalent positions, reduced the number of departments managed by county commissioners, and cut general fund spending by $7 million to account for a precipitous drop in tax and other revenue brought on by the recession and collapse in the housing and development market.

A public hearing about the proposed budget is scheduled for Dec. 7. Commissioners are scheduled to adopt the budget Dec. 18.

For more information, go to www.co.thurston.wa.us, and click on the “Budget Information” box at the top of the page.

Christian Hill: 360-754-5427

chill@theolympian.com