2024-07-22-minutes-public-works-&-cds-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: TOPIC: ACTION REQUESTED: LEAD STAFF: Joshua Fredrickson July 22, 2024 Road Fund Levy Update Request to Approve a Resolution for a Permanent Single -Year Levy Lid Lift Supporting Roads RECOMMENDATION: Approve a Resolution for a permanent single -year levy lid lift for roads BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Results of three years of inflation have impacted infrastructure maintenance • Levy for roads can be increased by 1 % each year • Rate increase scenario was developed to maintain infrastructure • Consideration of Levy Rate Lid Lift and to establish a new baseline BACKGROUND: Maintenance and construction of Kittitas County roads are funded through three primary sources: property tax, gas tax, and grants. Property tax is collected from residents of the unincorporated areas of the County. Gas tax is collected state-wide and a portion is allocated to Kittitas County. Grants are awarded based on an application process and typically require matching funds to be available from the County. Kittitas County has been successful in the past in obtaining grant funding for road and bridge construction. The Ten -Year Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) identified the need to address critical transportation asset investments. This plan utilized an annual inflation rate of two (2) percent. Inflationary impacts from 2021-2023 accumulated to 16.8 percent per the Western States Consumer Price Index (CPI). This has affected the ability to keep up with the anticipated road needs in the TAMP. From 2015-2019 levy shifts also impacted the road fund. While this allowed for the creation of the County's water bank system, which has benefited the county and residents, it came at an expense to public works infrastructure maintenance.