Members of the local government committee of the Washington State House of Representatives listen to a panel made up of county commissioners that included Lewis County Commissioner Edna Fund. The commissioners discussed how unfunded mandates are impacting counties.
Two elected officials from Lewis County spoke at a work session of the Local Government Committee of the Washington House of Representatives Friday in Olympia to relay concerns about the increasing costs and impacts unfunded mandates from the Legislature have on local governmental agencies.
The committee is currently looking at studying the situation through House Bill 2011, which would require the preparation of a report for the Legislature that details the statutory and constitutional obligations and capacity of revenue for cities, counties and special purpose districts.
“We having risings costs and constrained revenues that are keeping us from being able to do the job we are supposed to do,” Josh Weiss, policy and legislative relations director for the Washington State Association of Counties, said.
To help address the lack of funding, Weiss asked for costs to be controlled, as well as for an increase in the amount of money the state provides to jurisdictions.
Lewis County Commissioner Edna Fund was one of four commissioners who addressed the committee. She spoke about the cost of indigent defense and jail medical care. This year, indigent defense — or the cost of legal representation for suspects who can’t afford their own — is expected to cost Lewis County around $1.5 million, but only $200,000 of that cost is expected to come back as a reimbursement from the state.
A list of more than 70 unfunded or underfunded mandates in Lewis County were presented to the committee.
With approximately 80 percent of the county’s $33 million general fund going toward law and justice services, Fund said that “puts a lot of other programs in jeopardy.”
Lewis County has been working to ease away from its use of reserves, but after making cuts and increasing fees in certain area, the 2018 budget still has about a $1.3 million gap between the expected expenditures and revenues.
Commissioners from other counties expressed similar struggles.
Mason County Commissioner Kevin Shutty said this past summer, the county had to reduce 27 positions and is attempting to cut another $3 million from the 2018 budget.
Commissioners, city administrators and others spoke about the 1 percent revenue cap for property tax and how that amount does not generate enough to meet the jurisdiction's needs. Shutty also said that as far as marijuana revenue goes, Mason County is the top producer in the state, but only received a $53,000 kickback from the state.
“I was depressed when I heard that,” Shutty said.
Kitsap County Commissioner Robert Gelder explained the county started this year’s budget process with a $7 million gap.
Lewis County Treasurer Arny Davis addressed the Local Government Committee to express the pressure the unfunded mandates are placing on counties.
About 25 to 30 years ago, law and justice services accounted for about 40 to 50 percent of the overall Lewis County budget, he said, but now that number has climbed up to around 80 percent.
“That’s the squeeze being put on our commissioners,” Davis said. “… They are constantly hunting for ways to balance our budget.”
This year, the Board of Lewis County Commissioners approved a $800,000 shift from a roads fund to the general fund to help bridge the gap.
Davis said moves like that will eventually economically impact counties.
Paired with the issue of flooding in Lewis County, he said it’s hard to get new economic development in the area.
Gelder drew attention to Lewis County Commissioner Bobby Jackson, Budget Analyst Becky Butler and budget citizen advisory members Bill Marshall and Anthony Ahrens, who all attended the work session.
“A lot of people have invested time to travel here and be part of this,” he said. “I think that really speaks volumes.”
Staff from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy and the state Department of Commerce spoke about how to form the study. They said it was too early to put a cost and timeline on it.
Others said they would like to see the study focused on data and not political views.
Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, the chairwoman of the Local Government Committee, thanked the various commissioners, city officials and others for their input.
“Hopefully we will figure out something to help the cities and the counties,” she said. “That’s why we are having this workshop now to try to educate people on what is really happening. I don’t believe a lot of people within cities and within counties know really the tight fist people hold away from you guys. You helped us during the recession. Now I think it’s time we turn around and help you.”
