April 22nd, 2008
County Denies Funding to Mount Vernon Master Plan
County Denies Funding to Mount Vernon Master Plan Skagit County qualifies as a "distressed or rural" county in Washington, and as such, each year we receive a tax "rebate" from the state to put toward projects for economic development. Each municipality makes requests for money from the fund and the County Commissioners are charged with the distribution of these funds. The commissioners met recently to distribute the funds and overlooked the City of Mount Vernon's Downtown Master Plan flood control project to take Downtown Mount Vernon out of the 100-year flood plain.
The City of Mount Vernon asked for $500,000 of the total amount of the $4 million the County was charged with appropriating to put toward the flood control project in Downtown Mount Vernon. This project would effectively take Downtown Mount Vernon out of the flood plain, increasing jobs and providing economic stimulus. The City made this request with the economic study in hand to show these benefits. The Commissioners turned down the request for funds, so the City will have to seek other funding sources.
This portion of the Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project, if funded, would have meant great financial benefits to the County as well. By taking Downtown Mount Vernon out of the 100-year flood plain, the County would save immensely when it begins construction of the new jail. If the flood control project is not in place by the time the County begins construction on the jail, it will have to be elevated to meet the flood plain requirements. Essentially, funding the City of Mount Vernon's Downtown flood control project would have reduced the cost of building a new jail to the County.
Furthermore, the $500,000 that the City requested for the Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project was not dispersed elsewhere. The Commissioners appropriated approximately $3.4 million of the available $4 million. For the City of Mount Vernon, these funds would have been used for final engineering and to complete right-of-way acquisition on the downtown flood control project. The advisory committee to the commissioners had stated that they wished to fund "construction ready" projects, but most of the projects that were funded were also for property acquisition and engineering costs. The City of Mount Vernon Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project is construction ready, and was one of the most qualified and best researched projects in consideration for these funds.
This decision by the County to not fund the Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project with distressed/rural county tax funds is a major setback for the City of Mount Vernon Downtown Master Plan. These funds would have counted as part of the local match, and the City is asking for the rest from the State of Washington. Without County support, the project looks less favorable to the State and could possibly affect State funding of it.
The Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce encourages you to call your County Commissioners if you disagree with this decision and would like to see it changed. The Commissioners can be reached at 360-336-9300.
The City of Mount Vernon asked for $500,000 of the total amount of the $4 million the County was charged with appropriating to put toward the flood control project in Downtown Mount Vernon. This project would effectively take Downtown Mount Vernon out of the flood plain, increasing jobs and providing economic stimulus. The City made this request with the economic study in hand to show these benefits. The Commissioners turned down the request for funds, so the City will have to seek other funding sources.
This portion of the Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project, if funded, would have meant great financial benefits to the County as well. By taking Downtown Mount Vernon out of the 100-year flood plain, the County would save immensely when it begins construction of the new jail. If the flood control project is not in place by the time the County begins construction on the jail, it will have to be elevated to meet the flood plain requirements. Essentially, funding the City of Mount Vernon's Downtown flood control project would have reduced the cost of building a new jail to the County.
Furthermore, the $500,000 that the City requested for the Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project was not dispersed elsewhere. The Commissioners appropriated approximately $3.4 million of the available $4 million. For the City of Mount Vernon, these funds would have been used for final engineering and to complete right-of-way acquisition on the downtown flood control project. The advisory committee to the commissioners had stated that they wished to fund "construction ready" projects, but most of the projects that were funded were also for property acquisition and engineering costs. The City of Mount Vernon Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project is construction ready, and was one of the most qualified and best researched projects in consideration for these funds.
This decision by the County to not fund the Downtown Mount Vernon flood control project with distressed/rural county tax funds is a major setback for the City of Mount Vernon Downtown Master Plan. These funds would have counted as part of the local match, and the City is asking for the rest from the State of Washington. Without County support, the project looks less favorable to the State and could possibly affect State funding of it.
The Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce encourages you to call your County Commissioners if you disagree with this decision and would like to see it changed. The Commissioners can be reached at 360-336-9300.