HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-20-minutes-prosecutor-and-auditor-follow-up5/20/21 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY 9:00 A.M. MAY 20, 2021
Board members present via Webex: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice-
Chairman Laura Osiadacz, and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others via Webex: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Taylor Crouch,
Administrative Assistant; Jerry Pettit, Auditor; Sue Higginbotham,
Chief Administrator; Greg Zempel, Prosecutor; and Elishia Harvill,
Chief Administrator. SPECIAL MEETING MENTAL HEALTH TAX COMMISSIONERS
At 9:00 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting to consider
the Prosecutor’s office legal opinion relating to the Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Disorder Sales & Use Tax.
Greg Zempel, Prosecutor, provided an update and reviewed the legal
opinion relating to the proposed Sales & Use Tax. He said the
authority rests with the Board of County Commissioners and advisory
elections. Commissioner Wright said the information he received
from Municipal Research and an advisory vote was unclear. The Board
had a discussion and wanted more clarity for an advisory vote. Greg
Zempel said he would submit a CAMAS request to provide further
clarity. Vice-Chairman Osiadacz said she had worked with the Public
Health Administrator and the Budget & Finance Director and they are
currently looking for funding outside of having to have a vote to
increase the sales and use tax. She said they were looking at what
is best for Kittitas County to fund it from resources that may
already exist. She did not support strictly imposing an additional
tax without a vote of the citizens. Jerry Pettit, Auditor said they
could prepare a cost estimate by the end of June for placing it on
either the General ballot or having it on a Special/Primary ballot.
The deadline to place it on the November General Ballot is August 3rd
at 5:00 p.m.
Commissioner Wright said he would like to give Commissioner Osiadacz
time to look at other possible funding options without an additional
tax. Vice-Chairman Osiadacz said they hoped to get information by
the beginning of July.
5/20/21 MINUTES 1
Meeting adjourned at 9:19 a.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman