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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
December 10, 2020     Shelton Mason County Journal
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December 10, 2020
 
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Page A-2 Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 Mason County passes budget for 2021 By Kirk Boxleitner kbox/eitner@masoncounty.com Mason County commissioners unanimously approved a proposed 2021 budget Dec. 7 following a com- ment period that saw no comments submitted by either county depart- ment members or the public during a Zoom meeting. County Budget Manager Jen- nifer Beierle said the budget is $125,853,487, with a general fund of $53,464,511, broken down as follows: I A beginning fund balance of $14 million. I Revenues, excluding the begin- ning fund balance, of $39,464,511. I Salaries and benefits of $28,699,727. I Operating $11,983,896. I An ending fund balance of $12,780,888. The budget’s total other funds are $72,388,976, broken down as follows: expenditures of A construction worker walks out of the old Olsen Furniture building in Shelton, Wednesday morning. The build- ing was purchased by Mason County in 2019 for additional courtroom space. Journal photo by Lloyd Mullen I Salaries and benefits of $12,579,770. I Total operating expenditures of $59,809,206. ‘ Beierle acknowledged “everyone who worked on this budget during this difficult COVID year,” while singling out County Financial Analyst Kelly Bergh and the auditor’s financial ser- vices team. Commissioner Randy Neatherlin echoed and expanded Beierle’s thanks to county staff “across the board,” in- cluding “every single department and elected official,” in consideration of the “incredible year” that 2020 has been for Mason County. “This could have been a very, very bad year, and it will be for other coun— ties, unlike us,” Neatherlin said. “We were prepared, and we are sitting in a very good position. But I still highly appreciate that all of our departments did not get greedy this year, under- standing the circumstances we were at, which made this budget process so much easier.” Neatherlin said the budget em- phasized protecting everyone’s jobs within the county. “Some of you give every year to make this work, but this year was exceptional,” Neatherlin said. “May this be the best we can do, and I think it is. We’re in a good position for this county coming into the future.” Neatherlin added there was much for the commissioners to consider this year, “so it was not for the faint of heart.” Commissioner Kevin Shutty agreed with Neatherlin regarding “the unique nature” of 2020. “We know there are a lot of people out there who are struggling and are going to rely on county services in the coming months, in maybe differ- ent ways than they had in the past,” Shutty said. “As Commissioner Neat- herlin said, this is as good as it gets, and I don’t say that in a way that di- minishes this budget in any way.” Shutty said he credited the budget with “balancing the needs of the com- munity with the financial resources that are available to us,” even as it continues to fully fund the county’s reserves. “We’ve also been able to make some additional investments in parts of the county government that- needed it,” Shutty said. “We’ll never be able to address every concern in every budget, so this is always an in- terim process, always building on the previous year’s work.” Shutty said that the county will need to remain focused on “living within our means.” Shutty thanked budget staff and support services for their efforts in ensuring the county was prepared for this year’s budget process, which District 3 Commis- sioner Sharon Trask seconded. “I’ve said in the past that this is going to be a year for the record books,” Trask said. “I think next year V is going to be a difficult year, but I do believe the budget that we’re going to adopt today is a' very good, solid budgetelthink the citizens of Mason County will look at it and appreciate the hard work that’s gone into it.” County authorizes telework, housing grant extension e§"'kiéi Boxleitner kboxleitner@masoncounty com Mason County commissioners voted to approve the updated Mason County Telework Authorized Essen- tial Employees for Support Services and the Depart- ment of Commerce COVID-19 Outbreak Emergency Housing Grant Contract Amendment to extend the contract from Dec. 31 to June 30. Because the teleworkers’ compensation and ben- efits do not change due to their participation in the telework program, the program doesn’t affect the budget. Per Mason County Resolution 2020-29, “In the event of an unusual weather condition, extreme circumstance, or other public health emergencies, an elected official may authorize critical employees to telework without completing the forms and training as required in the policy.” Twenty Mason County employees are deemed “critical” during the COVID emergency. The terms stipulate all teleworkers must protect “information assets” from unauthorized access and use by others, including family members, friends and other visitors. Such'information assets cannot be left in unat- tended or unlocked vehicles, or in other unsecured locations where. they can be easily stolen, and all county-issued equipment likewise must be protected from unauthorized access and use by others, includ- ing the teleworkers’ personal equipment. The purpose of the Department of Commerce CO- VID-19 Outbreak Emergency Housing Grant is to Kim/l rule/7. D E NTAL CENTER ANY DEN'l AL TR], A'l'M liNT NIIW l’ATlllNl‘ EXAM tr RAYS (“HIGHLY Come see why everyone is smiling! We provide implants, oral surgery, root canals, veneers, crowns, bridges and more. Have your dental work done right here in Shelton and save the driving for the weekend. 1829 Jefferson Street, Shelton (360) 426—8401 6 wwwshehondentalcenterrom or U-huul We deliver 95] W. KAMILCHE [ME IN SHElT N 0P!“ MONDAY-FRIDAY. 7AM-4PM provide funding for emergency housing necessary to respond to the public health needs of people experi- encing homelessness or otherwise in need of quaran- tine or isolation housing due to the pandemic. The Department of Commerce is extending the end date of the grant from Dec. 31 to June 30, and the purpose of this extension is to maintain: I Isolation and quarantine housing, relative to cases identified by the Department of Health. I Additional shelter capacity to replace the shelter capacity lost when social distancing was increased. I Sanitation in existing homeless housing. There are no budget effects to Mason County from approving this grant contract extension, as the grant amount remains $505,405, with Mason County Health Services serving as the grantee. TAYlllli lflWNE llllllBliY NOW IJPEN! NWBOGKJHIM Stale (out. Reg. No. NORTHRIOBBNO o c c h v