Drafter
Clerk 11/23/2009
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AN ORDINANCE that adopts the 2010 Annual Budget and makes appropriations for the operation of county agencies and departments and capital improvements for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2010, and ending December 31, 2010, and an ordinance that adopts the 2010/2011 Biennium Budget and makes appropriations for the operation of the department of transportation and capital improvements for the fiscal biennium beginning January 1, 2010, and ending December 31, 2011.
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PREAMBLE:
Whether it is your family budget or our county budget, we all have experienced financial losses this year. During these tough economic times, the council has not lost sight of its duty to protect the county's most vulnerable residents. The council, through this budget; prioritized the following: restoring domestic violence and sexual assault services; minimizing cuts to criminal justice agencies; preserving existing bus service; transitioning the care of stray animals; keeping our parks open, and exercising fiscal restraint.
Human services provide shelter, jail diversion, counseling, jobs training and many other basic needs. Their value in our community cannot be disputed. While we could not fund all the programs previously provided, we were able restore funding for legal services, counseling, and shelter for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. This was realized by utilizing the flexibility provided by the state legislature to reprioritize mental illness and drug dependency dollars and by delaying some capital projects.
We worked hard to limit cuts to our criminal justice system - the sheriff, court system, jails, prosecutors and public defenders - to no more than a one percent reduction from 2009 levels. The council also recognizes that criminal justice agencies alone do not make our residents safe. Prevention and intervention programs such as drug court and expanded mental health courts as well as health and human services keep pe...
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