With fears of a state tax initiative “budget train wreck” threat behind them, Jefferson County commissioners are less than a week from adopting a proposed $40.9 million all-funds budget.
The budget includes $12.3 million in general fund expenditures.
Commissioners heard no public comments Monday during a budget hearing at the courthouse in Port Townsend, but went ahead and adopted 1 percent increases in the county ad valorem levies for property tax and roads.
The commissioners are expected to approve the budget when they meet again Monday morning at the courthouse.
County Assessor Jack Westerman, who urged the commissioners to adopt the real and personal property levy amounts, reported that the increases bring the county tax levy to $5.4 million.
The amount takes into account new construction during 2004, said Westerman, who praised the commissioners for conducting a budget process with “civility” during a year of tough economic times.
Premature ‘wreck’
“We probably were incorrect when we referred to it as a ‘budget train wreck,”‘ Westerman told the commissioners, referring to state tax-cut activist Tim Eyman’s proposed initiative to cut property taxes 25 percent.
The proposal earlier this year fell short of the signatures needed to place it on the state ballot.
Westerman said when the Eyman initiative threat was fresh, two budget options were considered — one with a 2 percent increase, another with a 15 percent decrease.
The commissioners also adopted a 1 percent county road levy increase, bringing annual revenues for that fund to $2.7 million.