HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-30-minutes-continued-public-hearing-11/30/2020 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY 2:00 P.M. NOVEMBER 30, 2020
Board members present via WebEx: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; Vice-
Chairman Laura Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mandy Buchholz, Deputy
Clerk of the Board II; Taylor Crouch, Deputy Clerk of the Board I;
Judy Pless, Budget & Finance Manager; Arden Thomas, WRP Manager;
Liz Remeto, Finance Manager; Joshua Frederickson, Engineer; Mike
Hougardy, Assessor; Amy Cziske, Treasurer; Chris Horner, Deputy
Prosecutor; and Candie Leader, Administrative Supervisor.
This meeting was provided to the public via WebEx and they were
previously notified on the Agenda as to where they could access and
provide public comments.
PUBLIC HEARING TAX LEVY RATES AUDITOR
At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing continued
from October 5, 2020 to consider possible tax increases for the tax
levy rates and amount for the taxes levied in 2020 to be collected
in 2021 for the General Fund, County Road and the Flood Control
District. He noted the record was open.
JUDY PLESS, BUDGET & FINANCE MANAGER provided various information
including property tax rates, levies and collections for the last
ten fiscal years; Principal Taxpayers; 2021 Preliminary County
Budget – Property Taxes by Fund; 2021 Preliminary County Budget –
General Tax Levy; 2021 Preliminary County Budget – General Fund 2021
Proposed Revenues; 2021 Preliminary County Budget – General Fund
Taxes; 2021 Preliminary County Budget – County Road Revenues; 2021
Preliminary County Budget – County Road Taxes; 2021 Preliminary
County Budget – Flood Control Revenues; 2021 Preliminary County
Budget – Flood Control Taxes; and the Assessor’s Certification of
Assessed Values to the Taxing Districts. JOSHUA FREDRICKSON, ENGINEER answered questions relating to the banked capacity over
multiple years, which has resulted in a backlog of County Road
projects. MS. PLESS noted the General Fund has done a Levy Shift
over the last several years as well. MIKE HOUGARDY, ASSESSOR
addressed questions from the Board and indicated the median value of
homes in Kittitas County is approximately $325,000.00.
THERE BEING NO ONE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED.
11/30/2020 MINUTES 2
RESOLUTION 2020-196 GENERAL TAX LEVY AUDITOR COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-196, for
Levying Taxes for the General Tax Levy for Municipal Purposes of
Kittitas County, Washington for the Year 2021 According to the
Assessed Valuation as Determined in the Year 2020. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT said while he understands it’s a difficult year
economically for people, there is still a cost for services
including statutory requirements, as well as expectations from the
citizens. He reviewed various reasons why he would be supporting the
1% levy increase. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ explained why she would not
be supporting the motion in favor of increasing the taxes. She felt
it was not the County’s money and she believed the public would not
want to increase the levy either, especially in the middle of the
current pandemic. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH reviewed reasons why he would
be supporting the increase and noted he did not take the decision
lightly. He said with the help of key partnerships in the community,
they’ve done an outstanding job utilizing the CARES funding with
businesses. Motion carried 2-1. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ opposed the
motion.
RESOLUTION 2020-197 LEVYING TAXES - COUNTY ROAD AUDITOR COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-197, for
Levying Taxes for the County Road for Municipal Purposes of Kittitas
County, Washington for the Year 2021 According to the Assessed
Valuation as Determined in the Year 2020. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH
seconded. Motion carried 2-1. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ opposed the
motion.
RESOLUTION 2020-198 FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT AUDITOR COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Resolution No. 2020,198, for
Levying Taxes for the County Flood Control Zone District for
Municipal Purposes of Kittitas County, Washington for the Year 2021
According to the Assessed Valuation as Determined in the Year 2020. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded. Motion carried 2-1. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ opposed the motion.
RESOLUTION 2020-199 SUBSTANTIAL NEED – GENERAL FUND AUDITOR COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-199,
Declaring Substantial Need for the County General Fund for Municipal
Purposes of Kittitas County, Washington for the Year 2021 According
to the Assessed Valuation as Determined in the Year 2020. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded. Motion carried 2-1. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ
opposed the motion.
11/30/2020 MINUTES 3
RESOLUTION 2020-200 SUBSTANTIAL NEED – ROAD FUND AUDITOR COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-200,
Declaring Substantial Need for the County Road for Municipal
Purposes of Kittitas County, Washington for the Year 2021 According
to the Assessed Valuation as Determined in the Year 2020. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded. Motion carried 2-1. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ
opposed the motion.
RESOLUTION 2020-201 SUBSTANTIAL NEED – FLOOD CONTROL ZONE AUDITOR COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-201,
Declaring Substantial Need for the County Flood Control Zone
District for Municipal Purposes of Kittitas County, Washington for
the Year 2021 According to the Assessed Valuation as Determined in
the Year 2020. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded. Motion carried 2-1. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ opposed the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:33 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman