PRESENTATION FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES

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PUBLIC FACILITIES FUND 0: 2023 Public Facilities Preliminary Budget The Director of Public Works administers the Kittitas County Public Facilities Fund. Kittitas County qualifies as a distressed county under Section 5 of RCW 82.14.370. Qualification as a distressed county allows us to receive monies from the Department of Revenue as a percentage of all taxable sales in Kittitas County for a period of 25 years. Kittitas County receives 0.09 percent of the state's share of Kittitas Counties' sales and use tax that provides revenue to the Fund. The Public Facilities Fund was established in April 1998. In accordance with RCW 82.14.370, monies received must be used for the purpose of financing public facilities that facilitate serving economic development purposes in rural counties and finance personnel in economic development offices. Various agencies throughout Kittitas County are invited to each year to submit public facility projects for consideration for funding through the Public Facilities Fund. The Conference of Governments (COG) is responsible for reviewing, rating, and prioritizing the projects. The list of projects that COG recommends funding in the next fiscal year is then presented to the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners for any modifications and final approval. Funding for those projects submitted and approved is then budgeted and available in the next fiscal year. This process will continue on an annual basis until the state funding ends in 2032. It is the goal for Kittitas County Public Works to encourage agencies throughout the county to provide applications for funding for eligible projects that facilitate the creation or retention of businesses and jobs in Kittitas County, in accordance with RCW 82.14.370.