Legislators: Little money will be available for local governments

Local state lawmakers are now aware of Grant County's budget troubles.

But their suggestion? Float a local-option sales tax to cover the estimated $1.4 million hole created by increased indigent-defense costs.

"I don't know how some of the local governments are going to survive if they don't start going to the people," 13th district Sen. Joyce Mulliken said at the county commissioners' room Wednesday afternoon.

Grant County commissioners and judges called together 12th and 13th district legislators to discuss upcoming budget woes and what could be done to solve them.

The biggest concern for all lawmakers was unexpected, rising indigent-defense costs. According to an early estimate from commissioners, the county may see $1.4 million of unbudgeted costs to provide indigent defense in Grant County.

The county has also spent the last of its reserve funds to cover budgeted indigent-defense costs, meaning no money is left over to cover the $1.4 million gap.

"We've saved for the rainy day, the rainy day was here, and it's still here," Commissioner LeRoy Allison said.

"I see a train wreck coming, and it's coming soon," Commissioner Tim Snead said.

Thirteenth district Rep. Bill Hinkle said he does not know how receptive the Olympia political climate would be to sending money to local governments.

During the last legislative session, Hinkle said no citizens came to him and requested funding for local governments.

"Public perception is what we have to deal with," Hinkle said.

Evan Sperline, the presiding judge of the Grant County Superior Court, said citizens have a constitutional right to a defense lawyer but not for a new county road. As the Legislature passes more laws, local police and local courts are burdened with enforcing them, he said.

"We're drowning in the water that continues to be poured onto the judicial system," he said.

Sperline added that Washington ranks last among the 50 states in the percentage of state funds it allocates for criminal justice.

The county and state officials discussed passing a .1 percent sales tax designated specifically for criminal justice, which generated $800,000 in 2003, according to County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant.

"Even if that passes, we haven't solved the problem," he said.

Other options before commissioners include a .3 percent sales tax increase (one-third of which can be used for criminal justice), a 25-cent real estate excise tax (which can only be used for building construction) and a 50 cent per 1,000 valuation property tax.

Allison said in an interview the commission is at the beginning of budget decisions and wants to get all options on the table.

Mulliken urged commissioners to ask for a reasonable amount of money from Grant County voters if they put the issue on the ballot. If they ask for too much, she said she fears voters will not approve the measure.

Twelfth district Rep. Mike Alexander said he doesn't want to see a short-term fix to a long-term problem. As an example, he said a county can only fix so many potholes in a road before the state must pay for a new road.

Hinkle added that commissioners could also look for what the state would consider modest funding, because that could be considered a large amount of money to a local government.

"Help us find a real-world solution to address the unfunded mandates," he said.