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Commissioners weigh delinquency-rate, motor-vehicle fees and transfers to behavioral-health fund
Summary
Budget staff warned a 1% delinquency assumption is risky; commissioners signaled openness to a 1.5% assumption, kept motor-vehicle fees at $5 for now, and tentatively agreed to move four community-partner line items (about $817,032) into the behavioral-health fund for continuity.
County budget staff told commissioners the proposed budget included a 2% delinquency-rate assumption while the three-year actual average is about 1%. Sarah (S3), who prepared the revenue estimate, said using 1% would be "risky" and cautioned that she would be uncomfortable recommending so low a number.
"Our three-year average on our delinquency is 1%. This budget has been placed at 2. If I recommend 1% and we hit 1.25, you fire me," Sarah said, urging the board to consider staff guidance on revenue assumptions.
Commissioners split on the exact rate to assume for planning. Several said they could support a 1.5% assumption as an intermediate step that would free up funds without adopting the staffrecommended 2% and without taking on the high risk of 1%.
On motor-vehicle fees, commissioners considered raising the fee above the previously discussed $5 per transaction but ultimately signaled no appetite to increase beyond $5 now, citing concerns about the fee's compounding effect on customers and the risk that higher temporary rates could become permanent if neighboring jurisdictions lobby for continuation.
On the behavioral-health sales-tax transfer and fund alignment, staff proposed moving four community-partner line items (community shelter, housing-authority tenant-to-homeowner support, permanent supportive housing assistance and one other partner) totaling roughly $817,032 into the behavioral-health fund to create better program continuity. Sarah said the behavioral-health fund currently had capacity and moving those items would "uncomplicate" staff administration. Commissioners generally supported moving the four projects but requested staff follow-up with project-level detail before finalizing transfers.
What happens next: staff will provide updated revenue spreadsheets reflecting the commissions direction on delinquency assumptions and will prepare the exact transfer amounts and fund-balance impacts for the next budget session.
Quotes
"I would be comfortable if it's our decision to give that a try [1.5%]," Commissioner (S9) said of the 1.5% delinquency-rate option.
"If we move the remaining $817,032, that's a $1,769,140 reduction to the transfer," Sarah (S3) explained when translating project moves into fund-balance math.
Context and limits: The transcript records deliberation and tentative directions but not a formal vote. The precise fiscal impacts will be updated in staff spreadsheets.
