Thanks to increased economic activity in the private sector that exceeded the county commissioners’ and finance department’s expectations, the county has announced the collection of an additional $5 million in general fund revenues (taxes, fees, and assessments). The announcement came after the commission voted to increase surface and stormwater fees and institute a noxious weed education program assessment on property owners.

The county administrator is in the process of drafting a supplemental budget for the commissioners’ consideration. Last Fall, a similar supplemental budgetary process took place and the commission decided to allocate the $2 million in new revenue to new projects and employees.

I strongly encourage the county commissioners to retain the lion’s share of the $5 million in unanticipated revenue as savings. The county currently maintains a minimum 7.5 percent reserve, but it could be depleted quickly should the economic cycle change and/or voters pass any tax-limiting initiatives this year.

Should the commission decide to repeat history and spend the revenue, perhaps their top priority should be the development of an effective tent caterpillar eradication program.

Mike Eliason
Keyport, Wash.