Our Priorities as a Community
By Commissioner Josh Brown

During my campaign for county commissioner, I focused on several issues I believed to be key priorities for Kitsap County, including stimulating economic growth and maintaining our quality of life.  As your next commissioner I will have the opportunity to partner with community groups, along with local, state and federal governments, to make these priorities a reality.

 A healthy local economy is imperative to ensure we have the resources as a community to invest in the future. I am committed to protecting local jobs that rely on federal spending and diversifying our local economy to provide robust growth well into the 21^st Century. By attracting businesses that create jobs, we can improve the revenue base for the county to fund critical services, like law enforcement, and make investments in our transportation infrastructure. In a recent county survey, citizens were asked what the top priorities should be for your tax dollar. Creating living-wage jobs was identified as the #3 priority, only trailing combating crime and maintaining roads as priorities. Our citizens have made the connection that a robust economy provides the opportunities for local government to make strategic investments that better people’s lives and improve our community’s quality of life. It is our role as county leaders to make this connection come to fruition. 

Kitsap County is a great place to live because we possess a remarkable display of natural beauty, combined with diverse communities that match our personal lifestyle choices. While our county remains predominantly rural, the strains of growth and congestion are a major frustration for our citizens. Since three of the top five roads identified as major congestion concerns are state highways, it is clear that we, as your commissioners, must place a high priority on partnering with our local legislative caucus to ensure our region’s state highways and the Washington State Ferries are adequately funded. We need a fair deal from Olympia, and I look forward to doing my part to make the argument for additional resources directed to Kitsap.

Public safety also has a critical impact on our quality of life. In the Citizen Satisfaction Survey, you rated responding to violent and non-violent crime as your #1 priority, and 83% of you are satisfied with the job Kitsap County is doing. In 2006, law and justice accounted for 64% of the county’s General Fund, which is supported by your taxes. In the 2007 Budget, it remains a top priority with 63% of the General Fund budget.

Improving county services for public safety and making investments in critical transportation infrastructure are complex issues to solve. Promoting a strong local economy provides local resources to fund these priorities in part. Teaming with our local legislative and congressional caucuses to get state and federal monies to enhance local investments is key to fully funding local priorities. 

Working together to achieve common goals will be my commitment as your next county commissioner. I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and input from you as community leaders.

Master Calendar

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