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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Contact: Don Krupp, Chief Administrative Officer,
360-786-5440
Thurston County Commissioners Receive 2010
Preliminary Budget
OLYMPIA - Thurston County Commissioners today received the
preliminary spending plan for 2010. Thurston County Manager Don Krupp says the
proposed budget for next year is a continuation of spending reductions that
have been required the last several years due to a structural problem with
county revenue coupled with the world-wide recession. “Initiative driven
limits on the budget mean property tax increases are held to 1% a year, which
will not keep up with inflation that has been averaging more than 3% a year.
The recession has also caused severe downturns in sales taxes and other
sources of county revenue.”
The overall budget for 2010 is set at $317.1 Million. That’s
down about 17% from this year’s spending level of $384.7 Million. Krupp says
that means shared sacrifices across all segments of county government. “We
have made major cuts since at least 2003 including very significant reductions
at the start of 2009 and then again in April. More than 150 employee positions
will have been cut between the 2009 and 2010 budgets, a workforce reduction of
more than 12%. The revenue challenges for 2010 mean more sacrifices for every
part of Thurston County government including those in the criminal justice
system, where spending accounts for more than 70% of the general fund, the
offices of general government and all the other departments and agencies.
Now that county commissioners have the preliminary budget in
hand, they will work with the offices and departments of county government to
refine the spending plan. A public hearing will be held at 5:30 the evening of
December 7th in Room 280 of Building One of the Thurston County Courthouse.
Between now and the hearing, Thurston County residents are encouraged to
submit their comments. They can send comments by mail to-
Board of County Commissioners
Thurston County Courthouse
2000 Lakeridge Drive, SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Those wanting to comment can also call (360) 786-5440 or fax
to (360) 754-4104 or send them by email to: tcbocc@co.thurston.wa.us
Budget materials will also be available on line soon on the
county’s web site at: www.co.thurston.wa.us
Look for the “budget” button on the opening page of the web site.
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