John Dean Weblog

Learn more about levy lid lift and budget crisis

2010-07-10T10:09:47+01:00

Many of our local families are struggling with the impacts of the current economy. So is your local county government. For years Island County's essential services have been funded primarily with unstable sales taxes and interest revenue from investments. When the national credit bubble burst, this revenue stream collapsed along

2010 Independence Day Speech

2010-07-04T09:01:59+01:00

Happy Independence Day, everyone, and thank you for the opportunity to publicly celebrate our independence and freedoms.

There is much to celebrate and much more to look forward to. Our roots in democracy and freedom are long and strong. We all know it, and we all feel it.

There is something else

Emergency preparation guidance

2010-07-02T10:23:22+01:00

The Stanwood Camano Fire Department and Island County DEM will offer “Map Your Neighborhood” Facilitator training on Monday, 19 July, 5-7 PM, Camano Fire District Administration Building conference room, 811 N Sunrise Blvd, Camano Island.

Map Your Neighborhood is a program designed to help neighbors prepare for disasters. The Facilitator’s training

Public forums around the county

2010-06-11T08:32:09+01:00

The Board of Island County Commissioners -- Commissioner from District 1 (South and Central Whidbey), Commissioner from District 2 (Oak Harbor), and Commissioner John Dean from District 3 (North Whidbey and Camano Island) – will again host a series of public forums to solicit ideas and hear general concerns about

The Financial Future of Island County

2010-05-27T06:50:07+01:00

Island County remains in a sustained budget crisis and is about to hit a financial wall.

This critical, ongoing challenge is traced to the national economic recession and Island County's past budgetary reliance on revenues from new housing construction. State Initiative 695 and Initiative 747 added to the financial "perfect

Roots of county budget problems

2010-05-16T09:47:23+01:00

Following an Island County budget story, a newspaper reader asked: Is this a new struggle or is it caused by years of liberal spending on unsustainable services?

The answer is: several former conservative boards of commissioners and the State of Washington created those important services. Over thirty years’ worth of former

Camano Drinking Water Forum coming

2010-05-15T06:09:54+01:00

Water purveyors, single-party well owners, system operators, and well drillers convene on Camano Island to discuss what they can do as a community to address potential drinking water shortages resulting from declining aquifer conditions and seawater intrusion.

The first meeting of the Camano Drinking Water Forum was held recently at Lost

County meeting for Camano Country Club neighborhood

2010-05-15T06:08:41+01:00

Island County Public Works' Surface Water Management Division hosts a public meeting for the Country Club neighborhood Thursday, May 27, from 7:15 pm to 9 pm to talk about the Beach Drive culvert replacement and road re-opening. The meeting will be held at the Camano Country Club facility, 1243 South

Island County catching up on technology as planned and budgeted

2010-04-06T15:15:56+01:00

Island County reached an important technological milestone Monday.

The Board of Island County Commissioners approved a contract with True Automation, Inc. for computer software installation, training, maintenance and support to replace outdated property assessment and taxation systems used by Assessor’s and Treasurer’s offices.

Island County Assessor Dave Mattens was joined by former

Citizen panel to review budget future

2010-03-26T07:59:54+01:00

In forecasting the financial security of Island County, data for expenses and revenues have been considered along with assumptions for future trends.

In these unpredictable and economically turbulent times, it is evident that we cannot rely solely on past experiences to make realistic forecasts. Budget Director Elaine Marlow has presented the