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Commissioners weigh children's services levy options; staff propose using one-time funds to lower tax impact
Summary
Staff presented levy options ranging from a $33M to $72M increase versus a TLRC recommendation of $144M; commissioners discussed using one-time general-fund or sales-tax-derived funds to reduce the levy burden and asked for an additional four-year, lower-per-year option to be certified by the auditor for the November ballot.
Lisa Webb presented the county's options for the expiring children's services levy and explained why placement and care costs are rising. She said placement costs have increased more than 90% since 2022 and the TLRC recommended $144 million per year, which would translate to a substantially higher millage.
"The TLRC's recommendation was $144,000,000 per year," Webb said, and staff provided a range of alternatives from an additional $33 million to $72 million with terms from two to five years. Webb said lower options rely in part on using one-time general-fund resources or other county funding to buy down the levy for a short period while county and JFS pursue efficiencies.
Commissioners debated financing choices on the record. Vice President Reese proposed exploring the possibility of using stadium sales-tax revenues or borrowing against future receipts to stabilize the levy short term; administration and bond counsel advised such uses are legally constrained and that existing board policy directs annual sales-tax capacity to the PTR program, not to buy down levy millage.
Commissioner Driehaus asked staff to add a four-year version of the lowest option (a 39% revenue increase over current levels) to the auditor's certification options so the board could consider it when it votes on resolution language. Staff indicated that adding the four-year option was feasible on the timeline if requested for the upcoming resolution and auditor certification window.
Webb reminded the board the auditor's certification deadline for ballot language is the first week of August; the board scheduled further discussion and potential action at the August meeting cycle.
