A budget that keeps Clallam County government’s general fund in the black by more than $5.4 million while lowering taxes will receive a public hearing Nov. 30.
The base budget (not including new spending) is actually 2 percent under the 2004 outlay.
“The tax rate I expect to go down a couple of cents per thousand dollars (of assessed valuation),” said Dan Engelbertson, county administrator.
The current rate is “just a hair over $1.59” per $1,000 of assessed valuation, he said.
Even when new projects are added, the 2005 spending outlay is only $200 above the 2004 general fund budget, Engelbertson said.
He calls it the result of county departments holding the line on maintenance and equipment in the face of rising wages, salaries and benefits.
“When you look at how employee costs go up, there’s about an $800,000 bill for employee increases,” he said, “and we just trimmed a little bit to keep the same total. It’s running government as frugally as you can.”
The employment expenses, though, are worth it, Engelbertson said.
“We’ve got good employees,” he said, “and employees are what make county government work.”
Two hearing times
The budget hearing will take place in two halves. One will start at 10:30 a.m., the other at 6 p.m., both in the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Copies of the budget are available online at www.clallam.net.
Also on the Web site are “A Citizen’s Guide to the Clallam County Budget,” several budget breakdowns and Engelbertson’s budget message.