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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-231 Economic Projections No published quantitative economic projections are available specifically for any of the Project study area counties. However, the WESD (2015b) produces employment projections for sub-regions of the state that may be indicative of likely conditions in the Project study area over the next several years. Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima counties are grouped in the South Central Workforce Development Area (WDA). This region is projected to experience employment growth averaging 1.6 percent annually from 2013 to 2018, then 1.2 percent growth from 2018 to 2023. Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations are projected to grow at a rate of 1.0 percent through 2018 and continue to grow at a slower rate of 0.6 percent through 2023. All growth projection rates are less than the projected statewide average annual growth projections of 2.0 percent from 2013-2018 or 1.4 percent from 2018-2023 (WESD 2015b). Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties comprise the North Central WDA. This region is projected to experience employment growth averaging 1.8 percent annually from 2013 to 2018, then 1.1 percent growth from 2018 to 2023. Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations are projected to increase by 1.2 percent annually through 2018 and then grow by only 0.5 percent annually through 2023 (WESD 2015b). 3.9.2.6 Government Fiscal Conditions Fiscal conditions for Project study area counties are described in this section, including Benton County conditions. Benton County is included because a short portion of Route Segment 3c would be located in Benton County, meaning some tax revenues (e.g., property, sales and use, public utilities) would be paid to Benton County jurisdictions. Overall County Budgets The Local Government Financial Reporting System (LGFRS) compiles revenue and expenditure data for Washington cities and counties and presents those data in a consistent format on an annual basis (Washington State Auditor 2015). Because none of the Action Alternatives pass through any incorporated communities, county and special taxing district budgets would be the only ones directly affected by the proposed Project. The LGFRS data are summarized below for Benton, Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima counties and shown in Figure 3.9.5. Property and retail sales and use taxes would be the primary tax payments generated by the Action Alternatives. These two tax categories are also two of the four most prominent portions of revenue for the counties, with the third and fourth most important being intergovernmental revenues (mostly federal and state shared revenues) and charges and fees for services. In the wake of the national recession of 2008-2009, counties in the Project study area and Benton County reduced their expenditures. Yakima County, in total, is an exception; however, if health and human services expenditure increases, which are accompanied by large new service charges, are excluded, the remaining expenditures would have declined from 2008 to 2010. Property taxes in all counties except Grant County increased from 2012 to 2014. Sales and use taxes increased in all four counties through the same period. In general, the primary fiscal condition for the four counties has had increasing intergovernmental revenues (Washington State Auditor 2015).