The Clark County Council today adopted its 2021 annual budget. The total expense budget for 2021 is $557 million.

In her remarks to the council, Interim County Manager Kathleen Otto said, “the recommended budget is balanced, sustainable and provides flexibility.”

2020 budget

Like many government entities, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the county budget.

The current 2020 expense budget, which includes everything that the county council has adopted through the 2020 fall supplemental, is $594 million.

Clark County’s Master Composter Recycler program is offering a series of free sustainable green living webinars this fall.

Here are the upcoming workshops:

In the last month, COVID-19 case numbers in Clark County have increased 50%, with more than 2,000 new cases reported in four weeks. In the last week, Clark County has averaged more than 100 cases per day. Today, Clark County announced 277 new cases.

The dramatic surge in cases has strained Clark County Public Health’s ability to quickly reach people who have tested positive for COVID-19. And that has impacted Public Health’s ability to identify and notify close contacts in a timely manner, which reduces the effectiveness of the contact tracing process.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Superior Court will not modify court operations based on information provided by Gov. Inslee during his Nov. 15, 2020, press conference.

The court has instituted safety measures that meet or exceed recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health for the Clark County Courthouse, Juvenile Courthouse and Family Law Annex facilities. Those measures include temperature checks, mandated masking, enforced social distancing, increased ventilation and targeted cleanings of high touch surfaces throughout the day.

Clark County Public Health launched a new online data exploration tool called the Healthier Clark County InfoMap. The interactive tool offers a new way of learning about health issues and how they impact people in Clark County. Through data visualized on maps and charts, users can explore how health and the circumstances and environments that influence health are distributed across the county.

Clark County Public Health is urging everyone to take steps to reduce their risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 this holiday season.

COVID-19 case numbers are increasing at an alarming rate in Clark County. Eight weeks ago, Clark County averaged 28 cases per day. Four weeks ago, we averaged 42 cases per day.

In the last week, we’ve averaged 116 cases per day, and this week our COVID-19 activity rate increased to more than 171 cases per 100,000 residents.

County Council public hearings scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 16

Interim Clark County Manager Kathleen Otto has presented her recommended 2021 balanced budget to the county council for consideration.

“All budgets require prioritization and I affirm that this recommended budget sustains current operations, may result in future efficiencies, and is consistent with council priorities,” Otto said in a statement to the county council.

Vancouver, Wash. – With the uncertainty around how public-gathering regulations will unfold over the next several months, Clark County Public Works has made the difficult decision to extend the temporary pause on new picnic shelter reservations and park use permits until Feb. 1, 2021. As part of Gov. Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, gatherings for those counties in Phase 2 must remain under five. Not accepting new reservations for park areas helps ensure those guidelines are being followed.

The Commission on Aging will hear from local housing organizations on how COVID-19 has impacted older adults and housing. Seniors have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic around the country. In addition, older adults experiencing homelessness are a growing population that is particularly vulnerable to contracting and dying from COVID-19. Amid this emergency, affordable housing and service providers have had to adapt the way they assist seniors and other vulnerable populations.

The Clark County Council is requesting applications for a volunteer position on the Mosquito Control District Board of Trustees.

The term for the at-large position begins Jan. 1, 2021 and runs through Dec. 31, 2022.

The Board of Trustees oversees the work of the Clark County Mosquito Control District. The board establishes policy, manages expenditures and approves contracts for services. Clark County Public Health provides administrative services for the district.