HomeMy WebLinkAbout40-14 - Res. Supporting the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) Fiscal Sustainability InitiativeRESOLUTION NO. aamlid
A Joint Resolution Supporting the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) Fiscal
Sustainability Initiative
WHEREAS, county governments across the State of Washington are facing a financial
and service delivery crisis; and
WHEREAS, the cost of providing essential public services is outpacing the growth of
revenue, leaving counties with few options other than cutting services to the public; and
WHEREAS, under the Constitution and laws for the State of Washington, many state
programs are administered and carried out by counties for residents of both incorporated and
u nincorporated areas including: administering and operating civil and criminal justice systems;
running elections; assessing and collecting property taxes to support schools, cities, fire districts
and other functions in addition to county operations; developing plans including Growth
management and Shoreline Management plans delivering public health services as well as
programs for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled; and addressing the need for low-
income housing; and
WHEREAS, counties also provide a primary government services for residents of
u nincorporated areas including law enforcement, transportation (both roads and transit), land
u se and zoning, parks, animal control, stormwater control; and
WHEREAS, unlike states and cities, counties are financed primarily by two sources of
revenue; property taxes and sales and use taxes. However, property tax growth is capped at
1% plus the value of new construction, and sales tax collections have become increasingly
challenging with the Growth Management Act allowing cities to annex large tax -paying
businesses into their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, in addition to revenue limitations, counties are challenged with a host of
regulatory requirements that are increasingly complex and expensive, expanding liability costs,
and increasing employment costs, regardless of a county's ability to pay; and
WHEREAS, WSAC launched its Fiscal Sustainability Initiative in an effort to educate
lawmakers about the services counties provide advance new revenue generation and cost
containment options to improve the fiscal health of county governments, and to advance
legislation in support of these options.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mason County Commissioners hereby
support the Washington State Association of Counties Fiscal Sustainability Initiative, and a
willingness to work with WSAC and other county officials across the state to advance the
initiative.
Resolution No. ta-10"11Li
Page 2 of 2
APPROVED this 22nd day o
ATTEST:
1
C k of the Board
APPROVED AS TO FORM
y;2014o
Tam Whitehead, C
He DPA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MAStQN COUTY, WASHINGTON
Fe
0
rri Jeffreys,
n Sheldon, Commissioner
Randy Neatherlin, Commissioner