Over limited objection, Blaine County commissioners approved a $26.4 million budget for fiscal year 2012 on Tuesday, including a nearly 6 percent increase in the county portion of property taxes.
The property tax increase drew the most fire, including the lone public comment at Tuesday's meeting. South county resident Marcia Collado asked the commissioners not to raise property taxes more than 3 percent, about $2.50 per $100,000 of home value, especially considering their decision not to raise taxes last year due to the economy.
"The economy has not gotten better. In the south valley, it's gotten worse," she said. "I don't understand the rationale behind raising our taxes by 6 percent."
Commissioner Larry Schoen was the sole vote against the 2012 budget, saying he felt it was unfair to "burden" taxpayers with certain expenses that include funding for outside agencies such as the Hunger Coalition, Senior Connection and Mountain Rides bus service.
"I just wish to give voice in this budget to those folks who have told us about how they are cutting back at home and at work, and they expect the same of us," Schoen said during Tuesday's budget-setting meeting. "[This] is not the right budget for this time."
The final budget would fund most outside agencies at 2011 levels. Sustain Blaine economic development group did not request county funding last year, but received $5,000 this year.
The Hunger Coalition saw a bump in county funding from $5,000 to $10,000 for 2012, in part due to public comment earlier this month from residents who said the coalition's services are vital during the economic crisis.
The commissioners approved an employee compensation program set to cost the county an additional $93,000. County employees will receive a 1 percent cost-of-living raise and some employees who are not being paid at current market rate will see additional raises.
Commissioner Angenie McCleary, who participated in the meeting via speakerphone, stated earlier this month that the raises would be more than paid for by cutting three staff positions and switching health insurance plans. The insurance switch alone will save the county $300,000.
"We've reduced three employees, we've changed our benefits, we've reduced the hours of our administrator," McCleary said Tuesday, adding that raising the property taxes was the only way to stabilize the budget despite these reductions.
"Long-term costs [of further cuts] would be greater than the savings," she said. "This is a good and prudent budget, and every expense is justified."
The final budget is $2.6 million lower than the tentative budget set Aug. 2, an estimated $29 million. Commissioner Tom Bowman said the county has reduced spending and that despite the hikes, county homeowners will actually pay less in taxes due to the expiration of the two-year Land, Water and Wildlife Levy.
"[Raising taxes] is not easy to do at any time. It's never easy," he said.
Bowman said he would commit to reconsidering spending to outside sources and making further cuts in the future.
"With this behind us, we'll look at our strategic goals a little differently next year," he said.
Katherine Wutz: kwutz@mtexpress.com
