PACKET: BOCC Special Meeting - Community Conversations at Thu, Jun 08, 09:00 AM

County Sources

AVCapture Page

Documents

AI Information

Jefferson County Government Overview and Budget for 2023

Topic Summary

This section provides a structural overview of Jefferson County government, detailing the responsibilities of various departments, and presents a summary of the County's 2023 budget and projected revenues. The County Family consists of 360 staff members, including 80 in Public Works and 65 in Public Health. The total projected expense budget for 2023 is over $81.5 million, with the General Fund accounting for approximately $25.7 million.

Key Points

  • The Jefferson County Family in 2023 comprises 360 staff members.
  • Major department staffing includes: Public Works (80 staff, 25 each in Roads and Solid Waste), Public Health (65 staff), Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (~50 staff), Central Services (32 staff), and Community Development (23 staff).
  • The County is governed by 3 County Commissioners and 8 Independent Elected Officials.
  • The responsibilities of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) include legislative authority, regional government, municipal corporation functions, and quasi-judicial duties.
  • The County Administrator oversees Risk Management, Budget Management, and Strategic Planning.
  • Law and Justice departments include the Sheriff, Superior and District Court Judges, Clerk, and Prosecuting Attorney, covering services like crime investigation, court records, criminal prosecution, civil counsel, and therapeutic courts.
  • Administrative departments (Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer) handle elections, licensing, property appraisal, tax collection, and investments.

Financials

  • Total 2023 Expense Budget: $81,512,223
  • General Fund: $25,681,640
  • Other Funds: $60,149,553
    • Public Works: $11,856,570
    • Tri-area Sewer: $10,463,787
    • Sheriff: $8,333,461
    • Public Health: $6,115,462
    • Non-departmental: $5,295,048
    • Solid Waste: $4,745,181
    • Grants Management: $4,362,518
  • Total Projected Revenues for 2023: $79,000,000 (implied, by rounding major categories)
  • Property Taxes: $14,045,141
  • Sales Taxes: $9,436,641
  • Grants: $17,151,294
  • Motor Vehicle Fuel Taxes: $1,502,300
  • Payment in Lieu of Taxes: $1,810,762
  • Fees: $6,611,574
  • Investment Income: $858,385
  • The difference between the 2023 Expense Budget ($81,512,223) and Projected Revenues ($79M) is not explicitly reconciled.

Alternatives

None specified.

Community Input

None present.

Timeline

  • Updated 8/2022: Date used for leadership highlights and budget snapshot.

Next Steps

The meeting schedule invites public discussion via "Questions and Answers with the Public."

Sources

  • Mark McCauley - County Administrator
  • Greg Brotherton - BoCC Chair, Commissioner District 3
  • Kate Dean - Commissioner District 1
  • Heidi Eisenhour - Commissioner District 2

County Challenges, Opportunities, and Priorities

Topic Summary

Jefferson County identifies a range of persistent challenges, including inflation, resource recruitment, and the housing crisis, while setting forth key priorities for 2023 and beyond. Major focus areas include housing/homelessness, infrastructure projects (Hadlock Wastewater), comprehensive planning, and recovery/spending of federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Key Points

  • Major Challenges identified: New Technology, Inflation, Looming recession, Cost of Housing/Housing Shortage, Homelessness, Climate Change, COVID (Pandemic > Endemic), and Recruiting and Retaining Staff.
  • Key Priorities: Strategic Plan/Survey, Stewarding Public Assets, Economic Development, Housing/Homelessness, Planning & Permitting, Forests & Wildfire Prevention, Parks & Recreation, and COVID Recovery.
  • The focus on Planning and Community Development relates to the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan (December 2018).
  • Community Development's mission is "To preserve and enhance the quality of life in Jefferson County by promoting a vibrant economy, sound communities, and a healthy environment."
  • Wildfire Preparedness includes guidelines for the Home Ignition Zone (0-5 feet), such as removing weeds, trimming grass/flowers to 4 inches or less, and ensuring tree branches are at least 10 feet from the home.
  • Parks & Recreation priority is highlighted by the Gibbs Lake County Park Trail Map which shows color-coded trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Financials

None specified (General challenges/goals).

Alternatives

None specified.

Community Input

None specified.

Timeline

  • December 2018: Date of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan.

Next Steps

The County encourages public participation by joining a board or committee, with current openings listed for 11 different bodies, including the Planning Commission and Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

Sources

  • County Administrator (Mark McCauley) - listed as presenting "State of Jefferson County"

Affordable Housing and Homelessness Projects

Topic Summary

Several major affordable housing and transitional shelter projects are underway in the County, driven by partnerships with non-profits such as OlyCAP and Habitat for Humanity. These projects represent a significant focus area, aiming to produce both immediate supportive shelter units and long-term permanently affordable housing units.

Key Points

  • OlyCap’s 7th Haven Project: 43 units of transitional and supportive housing.
  • OlyCap’s Caswell Brown Project: 50 units of shelter for unhoused neighbors.
  • Habitat for Humanity Landes Street Project: Not quantified, but listed as a key addition.
  • Habitat’s Mason Street Project in Pt Hadlock: Proposed for 150+ units of permanently affordable housing.

Financials

None specified in this priority section, though these projects are supported by subsequent recovery funding details.

Alternatives

None specified.

Community Input

None specified.

Timeline

None specified.

Next Steps

None specified.

Sources

  • OlyCap
  • Habitat for Humanity

Hadlock Wastewater Project (Phase 1 Sewer)

Topic Summary

Jefferson County is executing the $33 million Hadlock Wastewater Project, which represents a critical infrastructure investment. Project milestones aim for the completion of the wastewater treatment plant and collection system by the end of 2024, with full completion, including all connections, anticipated by Fall 2025.

Key Points

  • The project is titled the "$33 M Hadlock Wastewater Project."
  • The description refers to "Phase 1 Sewer Map."
  • Key projected milestones:
    • Final design – Fall ’23
    • Sitework – done Fall ’23
    • WW Treatment plant – end ’24
    • Collection system – end ’24
    • Connections – through Summer ’25
    • Completed – Fall ’25

Financials

  • Total project cost: $33,000,000 (implied, written as "$33 M")
  • Funding detail: $3,445,000 of the total cost is covered by ARPA federal recovery funding allocated to Jefferson County Public Works (detailed in the COVID recovery section).

Alternatives

None specified.

Community Input

None specified.

Timeline

  • Fall ’23: Final design and sitework completion.
  • End ’24: Wastewater treatment plant and collection system expected completion.
  • Summer ’25: Connections completion (timeline extends through summer).
  • Fall ’25: Project completed (estimated).

Next Steps

Construction and design progression according to the listed timeline.

Sources

  • Jefferson County Public Works (listed as recipient of ARPA funds for the project).

JUMP! Project Funding Summary

Topic Summary

The JUMP! Project has calculated its funding needs totaling $1,310,340, sourced primarily from a combination of private fundraising, a significant RCO grant, and dedicated Jefferson County Capital Funding. Local private committee cash raised makes up 17% of the total.

Key Points

  • Total funding calculated for JUMP! Project is $1,310,340.

Financials

  • Total Project Funding: $1,310,340 (100%)
  • Funding sources:
  • RCO Grant: $500,000 (38.16%)
  • Jefferson County Capital Funding: $475,492 (36.29%)
  • JUMP! Private Committee Cash Raised: $222,733 (17%)
  • Michael Berry Memorial Foundation: $50,000 (3.82%)
  • Donation of Labor and Materials: $47,115 (3.60%)
  • Jefferson Healthcare: $15,000 (1.14%)

Alternatives

None specified.

Community Input

None specified.

Timeline

None specified.

Next Steps

None specified.

Sources

  • Jefferson Healthcare
  • Michael Berry Memorial Foundation
  • RCO Grant (Recreation and Conservation Office; implied)

Federal COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Funding Distribution

Topic Summary

Jefferson County received a total of $12 million in federal recovery funding from the CARES Act ($2.4 million) and ARPA ($9.64 million), distributing resources across critical infrastructure, housing, economic development, and community services. A significant portion of ARPA funds went to the Hadlock Sewer project and support for shelter and broadband efforts. Additional recovery funding totaling $834,000 was allocated to various local non-profits and county departments.

Key Points

  • Total Federal Recovery Funding received: $12 million.
  • CARES Act (2020/2021) provided $2.4 million across 37 separate grants.
  • ARPA (2021/2022/2023) provided $9.64 million.
  • Major ARPA allocations:
    • Jefferson County Public Works: $3,445,000 for Hadlock Sewer construction.
    • OlyCAP: $1,500,000 for Caswell-Brown Outdoor Shelter.
    • Jefferson County PUD No. 1: $900,000 for Broadband initiatives.
    • City of Port Townsend: $500,000 for Evans Vista.
    • EDC Team Jefferson: $500,000 for Business Assistance Grants.
    • Habitat for Humanity: $500,000 for Hadlock Affordable Housing.
    • Fort Worden PDA: $378,000 for Debt Reserve/Capital Projects.
    • Olympic Peninsula YMCA: $290,000 for Childcare Facility.
  • A secondary list of $834,000 in recovery funding allocations was distributed to 17 entities, with the highest amounts going to YMCA ($100,000), Jefferson County Public Works ($100,000), Habitat for Humanity ($80,000), Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding ($80,000), and Olympic Housing Trust ($80,000).

Financials

  • Total Federal Recovery Funding: $12,000,000
  • CARES ACT: $2,400,000
  • ARPA: $9,640,000
  • Specific ARPA allocations: $8,728,000 confirmed via itemized list (the difference between $9.64M and listed items is not detailed).
  • Secondary Recovery Fund Allocations: $834,000 (itemized list provided).

Alternatives

None specified.

Community Input

None specified.

Timeline

  • 2020/2021: CARES Act dispersal period.
  • 2021/2022/2023: ARPA dispersal period.

Next Steps

None specified.

Sources

  • Jefferson County Public Works
  • OlyCAP
  • Jefferson County PUD No. 1
  • City of Port Townsend
  • EDC Team Jefferson
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Fort Worden PDA
  • Olympic Peninsula YMCA
  • Port of Port Townsend
  • Mason County PUD
  • KPTZ Radio
  • Greg Brotherton (associated with a $50,000 Quilcene Community Center allocation)

Generated On: 2025-11-06 16:57:04.469045-08:00 By: google/gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025 running on https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/