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Clatsop County Budget...Round 1

by Tryan Hartill

Since the Budget Committee is meeting next Monday, I have been going over the proposed budget for the last couple of days. I still have some more documents to collect and will do another post later. But I figured I would start some discussion by going over a few of the “Hot Topics” of the budget.

About 95% of the budget is basically a “hold the line” from last year. Most Departments are getting exactly the same amount of money as last year.

A few interesting bits…..

The County will receive about $450,000 more in taxes this year than last, but is planning on losing $1.7 million in timber money. Apparently the trees are growing to slow and the State is cutting back on the amount that can be logged.

Public Safety

Last year the County did some fancy accounting work in order to give the District Attorney 2 new staff positions. They took about $120,000 out of the Courthouse remodel (Special Projects) to fund these positions. This year those 2 positions are still up in the air. Jeff Hazen has asked for the County to compare the D.A.’s 1st quarter 2006 caseload, to his 1st quarter 2007 caseload. My guess is that if the D.A.’s case load has indeed went up, due to the fact that there is a 3rd judge, then he will keep his 2 staff positions. The reason for all the controversy is because the money for the positions will come out of the General Fund, which is getting smaller every year. And at some point over the next 2-3 years something has to give.
The County also pays the District Attorney about $13,000 a year on top of his salary from the State. Whether this will come up at the Budget Meeting is anyone’s guess.

Another topic will be the Sheriff’s 2 new Technicians. Currently the jail beds, that the County rents in Tillamook, are paid for by the Special Projects Fund. Last year the Sheriff reduced the number of rented beds from 12 to 10 in order to have 2 new Technicians. This year it is proposed that the 2 Technician positions are paid for out of the General Fund. Which again will pose a problem of not being there in the near future because of falling revenues.

A 3rd topic that I am still learning about is the Juvenile Detention Center. Currently the County rents a whole 25-bed pod from the old OYA building in Warrenton. In years prior, Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook rented 14 beds for all the youth in the 3 counties.
Just guessing here, but there is no way the County is using all 25 beds out there. I’d say they are lucky to be using 4.

Land-Use

Last one is Land-use Planning. As with all counties in the State, Measure 37 is draining the County’s resources. Measure 37 has cost the County $198,000 in the last 2 years, but the County has only collected $26,000 in fees. With each Measure 37 claim, the applicant must pay AT LEAST $3,500 to the County. So only 6 applicants have paid the fees so far? This doesn’t pass the sniff test…...

May 9, 11:24 pm | Tryan Hartill
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3 comments on this article (post your own)

1 On May 10, 05:36 am, KISS wrote:

You’re right it does fail the sniff test. The county or city, depends on who is involved, collects the fees and spends that to determine the case. Any money not used goes back to complainant. There is no need to pay anybody, if the county/city finds complainant has a justification. Just say yes to his desire. The whole trick is, the counties/cities are turf happy and want to flex their muscles.Egos is the drivers here.

2 On May 10, 09:17 am, Jeff wrote:

Tryan, fairly good analysis of the budget. I guess I will leave it to you to report on it prior to the approval of the budget by the committee rather than comment on my blog at this point. Will you be attending the budget committee meeting on Monday?

3 On May 10, 12:19 pm, THartill wrote:

Yeah I hope to be there. Although my recorder does not seem to work in the Boy building. I might try to plug it into the sound system and see what happens.

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