POULSBO — Little Norway residents may have questions and concerns when it comes to cuts in Kitsap County funding, but few of them were voiced Tuesday night at a “Community Conversation” meeting held by county commissioners.
Just 12 attendees dotted the expansive rows of seats in the North Kitsap Community Auditorium.
But while it certainly was no Boston Tea Party, those who did attend took advantage of the situation, letting county leaders know just what they think about impending service cutbacks and revenue shortfalls.
“It seems like to me the county continues to spend more than it should, and now we’re in a bind,” said Kingston resident Scott Henden. He encouraged North Kitsap Commissioner Steve Bauer and administrative services manager Ben Holland to review the county’s past decisions and take a “whole picture” approach as they attempt to correct a $4 million general fund deficit.
The meeting, one of three scheduled throughout the county, was designed by the commissioners to offer residents more information on why the cuts are needed and to promote tax increases as a remedy. The first “Community Conversation” was held in Port Orchard and saw more than double Poulsbo’s dozen attendees. The third is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Olympic High School in East Bremerton.
Bauer said he was surprised at the low attendance, and added he’d like to believe there was simply confusion about the location. The commissioners may plan another meeting for North End residents, as this was the only one scheduled for the area.
“Currently, the budget problem is in our general fund and we think we’re going to have similar problems in two or three years in the road fund,” Holland said.
He pointed out that revenues are increasing at just 4 percent a year, while expenditures go up 6 percent annually. Initiative 747, passed by popular vote in 2001, has led to insufficient property tax revenues — and a nearly $27 million loss in the general fund.
“If we cut out that $4 million… our projection is that our revenue will equal our expenditures,” Holland said. “We will be living within our means, and that’s our plan.”
The county has instituted several changes which have been deemed threats to the quality of life in Kitsap, including a $1.6 million budget cut — the first in the county’s history — along with a hiring freeze, adjustments in service charges and an enterprise fund for the department of community services, which will ultimately have to pay for itself. Holland also said a $3 million personnel cut affecting at least 40 jobs, 16 of which come from the law enforcement and public safety sector, will need to occur. A $1 million supply, service and interfund payment cut must also take place.
“This is serious and it’s ongoing and it isn’t going to get done overnight,” said Bauer, who added expenditure rates are not the issue. “The fundamental issue is the revenue problem.”
Poulsbo resident Joan Gorner urged Holland and Bauer to consider employee salary cuts and other possible funding options for the county’s various citizen boards.
“You’re going to have to change a little bit,” she said. “You cannot continue to come to taxpayers for increases. You’ve got to start thinking outside the box.”
Bauer replied the board, just as residents, prioritizes efficient spending, and issues brought to the commissioners’ attention from citizen suggestions can always be re-evaluated.
“I would like to assure you the commissioners do listen,” he said. “But there’s a difference between listening and doing what you want.”
Commissioners are working toward a tax increase levy in 2009, and until then Holland said 60 percent of the county’s departments have complied with cuts, the rest are still working on the adjustment.
For more information on the next “Community Conversation,” call the commissioners’ office at (360) 337-7146.
