2016-17 County Budget

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 19, 2016

Budget Committee Approves $1 Billion Spending Plan

Washington County's proposed $1 billion all-funds budget was approved today by the county's Budget Committee, comprised of both appointed residents and elected members of the Board of Commissioners. Bolstered by steadily improving revenue trends over the last few years, the approved budget would maintain county services and make additional investments in key areas including facilities and information technology, affordable housing, mental health care and community engagement.

"Unlike during the recession, when revenue was tightening in key areas, assessed values have been rebounding recently, leading to an increase in discretionary resources available to the county and many of our local government partners," County Administrator Robert Davis wrote in the proposal's introductory pages. "The combination of these new resources with the growing presence of several acute social issues represents a challenge and opportunity to our organization and directly frames many of the new initiatives and priorities included in this year's proposed budget."

The approved all-funds budget, which will be the subject of a public hearing on June 28, represents a 7 percent increase over last year's all-funds budget. The increase is largely explained by the passage of a $77 million bond measure by Washington County voters this week to replace decades-old communications equipment and to make facilities improvements to the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (WCCCA), also known as the county's 9-1-1 dispatch center. This increase in the all-funds budget was offset by the refinancing of $39 million in county debt that occurred in the current year, taking advantage of the low-interest-rate environment and saving roughly $5.6 million in debt-related costs over the next several years.

Expenditures anticipated from the county's general fund, the portion of the budget over which the Board of Commissioners has the most discretionary spending authority, would be $251.4 million, a 6 percent increase over last year.

Revenues supporting county general fund operations grew over the last year, according to the proposed budget document. Revenues from property and other taxes increased by 6 percent compared with 2015-16. This single revenue category supports roughly two-thirds of the county's general fund.

The next step for the budget process involves a public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners at 6:30 p.m. on June 28 in the Auditorium of the Charles D. Cameron Public Services Building, 155 North First Avenue, Hillsboro. The public is invited to attend this meeting and make comments.

The Washington County government organization has a mission of providing excellent and cost-effective services that support healthy, peaceful, safe and sustainable communities; and encouraging meaningful participation in community activities and County governance. The organization is comprised of 1,891 full-time equivalent employees.

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