Washington County officials preview modest-growth 2015-16 operating budget

County finance staff presented an overview of the proposed Washington County fiscal year 2015-16 operating budget on March 10, emphasizing conservative revenue estimates and incremental growth in several tax lines. Parker told the board the budget begins with an anticipated $1.5 million carryover and projects about $300,000 in real-property tax growth next year. "David and I are very pleased to be here," Parker said as he opened the presentation.

Staff detailed line-by-line revenue assumptions, noting a 97.44 percent collection rate for current-year personal-property taxes in recent reporting and a projected $300,000 increase in personal property revenue. Officials flagged several revenue sensitivities, including revenue-sharing tied to Bristol's rates and a proposed increase to the hotel-motel tax that staff estimated could yield roughly $60,000 annually if raised toward regional levels. Supervisor questions focused on timing and accounting rules for sales-tax receipts and on assumptions underpinning mobile-home and machinery-and-tools collections.

Board members agreed to try to streamline the budget review process. Supervisor Baker proposed that supervisors submit specific line items for focused workshops so the board can avoid line-by-line review of the entire book; staff asked supervisors to send topics to the county administrator by March 17 so work sessions can be scheduled. The board did not adopt changes to revenue assumptions at the meeting.