The
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Sea creatures in our waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3
Upcoming A cappella
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Hospice Fundraiser
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VOLUME 36, NUMBER 46 • NOVEMBER 12, 2013
School board re-elected, solid San Juan County crafts budget for the coming year waste levy is passed, I-522 fails By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
Everything you want to know about San Juan County government and the proposed 2014 budget can be found in 153 pages of the county preliminary budget document prepared for the County Council by Auditor Milene Henley. These documents, which will be revised when the County Council approves the budget after a series of public hearings over the next several weeks, can be found at sanjuanco.com/Budget2014/ docs/2014Preliminar y_ Budget_Book_Complete. pdf. Ever ything, that is, except the “Non-General
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Fund” budget, which totals $32,987,817 - more than half of the total county budget of $53,326,315. The “NonGeneral Fund” accounts apply to certain dedicated funds which have their own sources of revenue, including dedicated taxes, grants from various sources, intergovernmental transfers, fees and other sources. These receipts and expenditures will be included in the final budget documents. The preliminary budget summary, which will be presented to the council on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 4 and 5, by Auditor Henley and County Manager Mike Thomas, shows a General Fund total of $20.4 million. Most of that amount comes from real estate and sales taxes, although various grants and transfers are also included in the General Fund, as they are in the nongeneral fund totals. The preliminary budget for 2014 represents a decrease of about $1 million from the all-funds estimated 2013 total expenditures, although final 2013 expenditures won’t be available for several months. Because tax and grant receipts will
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vary through 2014, some supplemental and emergency appropriations may still be made by the council as the year progresses. The preliminary budget for 2014 represents a decrease of about $1 million from the all-funds estimated 2013 total expenditures, although final 2013 expenditures won’t be available for several months. Because tax and grant receipts will vary through 2014, some supplemental and emergency appropriations may still be made by the council as the year progresses. The preliminary budget document reviews all county departments and agencies and includes extensive documentation of departmental functions, personnel and activities. For instance, County Council projected expenditures of about $493,000 is about $24,000 less than 2013, possibly reflecting the recent charter amendments reducing the council from six members to three members. Other functions facing cuts in budgets include both “county administraSEE COUNTY, PAGE 6
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In the race for Lopez School District Directors the current school board was re-elected. For position 1, incumbent John Helding received 55 percent of the vote while his opponent Joe Thornton received 45 percent. For position 2, incumbent Clive Prout received 68 percent of the vote while his opponent Jay Brant received 32 percent. For position 3, incumbent Del Guenther received 53 percent of the vote while his opponent Teddy McCullough received 47 percent. For position 4, incumbent Dixie Budke received 62 per-
cent of the vote while his opponent Paul Berg received 38 percent. Dan Post won the race for Lopez Port Commissioner 3 with 59 percent. His opponent Bob Porter received 41 percent. The Fire District 4
Commissioner seat was won by Rebecca Smith with 72 percent and Richard Bangsund came out with 27 percent. The Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District Prop. No. 1 concerning a oneyear levy to fund solid waste disposal activities passed with 78 percent of the vote. The county Prop. 1 amendment concerning the charter failed with only 35 percent of the vote. Locally, I-522, the measure concerning the labeling of GMO foods, was approved at the county level. But statewide, it was rejected by 55 percent.
New signs put up on Lopez Island What are all those paint marks on the pavement? Why are there wooden stakes on the shoulder? Beginning in early November, San Juan County Public Works will begin installing new Regulatory and Warning signs on Lopez Island’s County Roads. Regulatory signs include stop, yield, and speed limit signs. Warning signs include turn/curve, pedestrian warning, school bus stop ahead, and Chevron signs. These signs are being installed as part of a federal mandated program to improve safety by replacing traffic signs nationwide with more reflective signs. Increasing reflectivity is important because most accidents occur at night. The “Run-Off Road and Intersection Safety Project – Sign Replacement Program” is a federally funded grant program that will bring the County into compliance with nation-
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al sign standards. These standards increase awareness at the most accident prone sites and critical areas, create consistency in sign placement and usage, and increase sign visibility for older drivers and night time driving. Through this program the county will reduce the number of Regulatory and Warning signs on Lopez by 22 percent, from 519 to 405. Before installing new signs, all utilities must be located to make sure that none of them are hit. This includes placing a stake where the sign is to be installed and spray painting white locate marks on the road’s shoulder. The various utilities use orange, red, blue and green paint. That is why there are so many marks on the road. Installation is expected to last for approximately one month and is being carried out by county personnel.
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