HomeMy WebLinkAbout*Other - BOCC (002)Grant County,, Washington
Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, 2022
Presentat6ion to S&P Global Rat'ingl
Rating WebEx Meeting: July 25 2022f 2:00 PM(PDT)
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D�A�DAVIDSON
FIXED INCOME CAPITAL MARKETS
Jim NELSON
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
D.A. DAVIDSON & CO.
COLUMBIA CENTER, 701 FIFTH AVE., SUITE 4050
SEATTLE, WA 98104
PHONE: (206) 389-4062
CELL: (206) 713-9354
EMAIL: JNELSON@DADCO.COM
WebEx Meeting with S&P Global Ratings
Date: July 25, 2022, 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Participants
Mr. Danny Stone
Commissioner
Grant County,, Washington
Ms. Cindy Carter
Commissioner
Grant County, Washington
Mr. Rob Jones
Commissioner
Grant County Washington
Ms. Barbara Vasquez
Clerk of Board/Admin. Assistant
Grant County
Ms. Katie Smith
Chief Financial Officer, County
Auditor's Office
Grant County
Mr. Jim Nelson
Underwriter/Senior Vice President
D.A. Davidson & Co.
Mr. Brian Phuvan
Lead Rating Analyst
S&P Global Ratings
Ms. Caroline Baird
Secondary Rating Analyst
S&P Global Ratings
Mr. Darryl Pheasant
Treasurer
Grant County,, Washington
Mr. Tom Gaines
Central Services Director
Grant County,, Washington
Ms. Melissa McKnight
Assessor
Grant County, Washington
Mr. Brant Mayo
Executive Director
Grant County Economic Development Council
Pale
1. Introduction..........................................................................................1
2. The Bonds.............................................................................................2
3. The County............................................................................................5
4. County Debt and Taxes.......................................................................11
5. County Financial Operations...............................................................18
6. The Economy.......................................................................................21
7. Conclusion...........................................................................................40
1, Introduction {Tom Gaines}
Grant County's Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, 2022 present the opportunity to review
the County's credit developments since the last full rating review in 2016. Noteworthy are the
following credit strengths:
1. Continued economic expansion, with $1.2 billion of new construction since 2018;
2. Diverse local economy, with focus in agriculture, food processing, energy -intensive
technology and manufacturing;
3. Strong available current expense fund reserve position of $17.3 million (31.8% of
current expense fund expenditures) and road fund reserve position of $9.2 million
(58.5% of road fund expenditures);
4. Stable revenue sources, with property taxes constituting 39% of 2021 tax revenues,
sales taxes 51%, and other taxes 10%;
5. Strong pledge of the County Current Expense Fund for the LTGO Bonds plus its share
of the new voter -approved 0.3% Law and Justice sales tax;
6. From a budgeting standpoint, ample projected coverage of the 2022 LTGO Bond debt
service by the County's Law & Justice sales tax revenue starting at 1.63 times in 2022,
dropping to 1.06 times in 2023 and growing steadily thereafter;
7. REC has agreed to pay Grant County $13,500,000 to settle an ongoing tax appeal.
REC is paying the settlement in installments over a 7 -year period, with the last
payment on 12/15/2026.
8. Experienced management with a history of conservative financial practices;
9. Formal Reserve Policy of 20% of Current Expense Fund Expenditures; and
10. Low amount of debt representing only 0.65% of AV.
AC-0
0
2, The Bonds {Jim Nelson}
The County plans to sell $79,655,000* of Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, 2022.
BOND SALE PLAN
1. Rating desired by August 3,d
2. Bond sale scheduled August 17th
3. Bond Closing scheduled September 1st.
BOND PURPOSE
Proceeds of the Bonds will be used:
1. to pay costs of acquisition, construction and equipping of the new jail facility of the
County and other capital improvements (the "Project"); and
2. to pay costs of issuance, sale and delivery of the Bonds.
SECURITY FOR THE BONDS
The Bonds are limited tax general obligation bonds of the County. The County., as authorized by
law and the Bond Resolution, has covenanted and agreed irrevocably that it will include in its
budget and levy an ad valorem tax upon all the property within the County subject to taxation
without a vote of the people in an amount that will be sufficient,, together with all other revenues
and money of the County legally available for such purposes, to pay the principal of and interest
on the Bonds as the same become due. The County has irrevocably pledged that such tax will be
within and as a part of the tax levy permitted to the County without a vote of the people. The full
faith, credit and resources of the County have been pledged irrevocably for the annual levy and
collection of such taxes and for the prompt payment of such principal and interest.
2
Law and Justice Sales Tax Distributions. The Law and Justice Tax is an additional local sales and
use tax of 0.3% for providing funds for costs associated ' with criminal justice and law
enforcement. The County voters approved the tax in November 2019. There is noexpirationon
the law & justice sales tax. The tax is levied only by the County and is imposed County -wide, but
the receipts are shared with the cities. Of the revenue collected, 60% is retained by the County
and the remaining 40 percent is distributed to cities in the County on a per capita basis. The
County anticipates budgeting the revenue collected from the tax for debt service payments on
the Bonds.
As of June 30,, 2022, the law & justice sales tax fund is holding about $8.73 million. About $1.13
million has been spent to date on the project.
The new jail, which will be located in Ephrata at the site of a former raceway, will replace the
existing County Jail, expanding capacity and adding features to keep inmates and staff safe.
3
4
Current Market, Level Debt Payments
35 YEARS, Fund $88,046,000, target annual payment of $4,985,000
Growth Rate
Compare Taxable
Retail Sales column
5.00%
to Annual Payment column
Surplus
Less 5%
Less
Net Remaining
DS
Estimated
remaining for
Program
Equipment
for Annual
coverage
Period
Taxable Retail.
Annual
Operating Maintenance
Replacement
Operating
by tax
Ending
Sales
Principal (1)
Interest (1)
Payment (1)
Costs
Fund
Fund
Costs
revenue
113.95%
12/1/2022
4,900,000
1,970,000
1,026,675
2,996,675
1,903,325
95,166
0
1808159
---------- - - - --
105.00%
12/1/2023
5,145,000
850,000
4,008,200
4,858,200
286,800
14,340
0
2721460
146
105.00%
12/1/2024
5,4021250
890,000
3,965,700
4,855,700
546,550
27,328
0
519,223
1.11'
105.00%
12/1/2025
5,672,363
935,000
3,921,200
4,856,200
816,163
40,808
0
775,3541-17
105.00%
12/1/2026
5,955,981
985,000
3,874,450
4,859,450
1,096,531
54,827
100,000
941,704
1.23
105.00%
12/1/2027
6,253,780
1,035,000
3,825,200
4,860,200
1,393,580
69,679
100,000
11223,901
1,29`
105.00%
12/1/2028
6,566,469
1,085,000
3,773,450
4,858,450
1,708,019
85,401
100,000
1,522,618
1:35.
105.00%
12/1/2029
6,894;792
1,140,000
3,719,200
4,859,200
2,035,592
101,780
100,000
11833,812
1.42
105.00%
12/1/2030
7,239,532
1,195,000
3,662,200
4,857,200
2,382,332
119,117
100,000
2,1631215
1.49
105.00%
12/1/2031
7,601,508
1,255,000
3,602,450
4,857,450
2,744,058
1371203
100,000
2,506,855
1.56
105.00%
12/1/2032
7,981,584
1,320,000
3,539,700
4,859,700
3,121,884
156,094
100,000
2,865,789
1.64
105.00%
12/1/2033
81380,663
1,385,000
3,473,700
4,858,700
3,521,963
176,098
100,000
3,245,865
1.72
105.00%
12/1/2034
8,799,696.
1,455,000
3,404,450
4,859,450
3,940,246
197,012
100,000
3,643,234
105.00%
12/1/2035
9,239,681
1,525,000
3,331,700
4,856,700
4,382,981
2191149
100,000
41063,832
1.90:
105.00%
12/1/2036
9,701,665
1,605,000
3,255,450
4,860,450
4,841,215
2421061
100,000
4,499,154
2.00:
105.00%
12/1/2037
10,186,748
1,685,000
3,175,200
4,860,200
5,326,548
266,327
100,000
41960,221
110
105.00%
12/1/2038
10,696,085
1,765,000
3,090,950
4,855,950
5,840,135
292,007
100,000
5,448,129
-2.20;
105.00%
12/1/2039
11,230,890
1,855,000
.3,002,700
4,857,700
6,373,190
318,659
100,000
51954,530
231
105.00%
12/1/2040
11,792;434
1,950,000
2,909,950
4,859,950
6,932,484
346,624
100,000
6,485,860
2.43
105.00%
12/1/2041
_ 12,382,056
2,045,000
2,812,450
4,857,450
7,524,606
376,230
100,000
7,0481376
105.00%
12/1/2042
13,001,159
2,145,000
2,710,200
4,855,200
8,145,959
407,298
100,000
71638,661
= 2.68[
105.00%
12/1/2043
13,6513217.
2,255,000
2,602,950
4,857,950
8,793,267
439,663
100,000
8,253,603
2.81;
105.00%
12/1/2044
14,333,778
2,375,000
2,484,563
4,859,563
9,474,215
473,711
100,000
81900,504
2:95':
105.00%
12/1/2045
15,050,466
2,500,000
2,359,875
4,859,875
10,190,591
509,530
100,000
9,581,062
105.00%
12/1/2046
15,802,990
2,630,000
2,228,625
4,858,625
10,944,365
5471218
100,000
10,297,146
3:25
105.00%
12/1/2047
16,593,139
2,765,000
2,090,550
4,855,550
11,737,589
586,879
100,000
11,050,710
3.42
105.00%
12/1/2048
17,422,796
2,910,000
1,945,388
4,855,388
12,567,409
628,370
100,000
11,839,038
105.00%
12/1/2049
18,293,936
3,065,000
1,792,613
4,857,613
13,436,323
671,816
100,000
12,664,507
3077:
105.00%
12/1/2050
19,208,633
3,225,000
1,631,700
4,856,700
14,351,933
717,597
100,000
13,534,336
3.96:
105.00%
12/1/2051
20,169,064
3,395,000
1,462,388
4,857,388
15,311,677
765,584
100,000
14,446,093
105.00%
12/1/2052
21,177,518
3,575,000
1,284,150
4,859,150
16,318,368
815,918
100,000
151402,449
-4.36.
105.00%
12/1/2053
22,236,394
3,760,000
1,096,463
4,856,463
17,379,931
868,997
100,000
16,410,934
105.00%
12/1/2054
23,348,213
3,960,000
899,063
4,859,063
18,489,151
9241458
100,000
17,464,693
4.81
105.00%
12/1/2055
24,515,624
4,165,000
691,163
4,856,163
19,659,461
982,973
100,000
181576,488
5.05
105.00%
12/1/2056
25,741,405
4,385,000
472,500
4,857,500
20,883,905
1,044,195
100,000
19,739,710
5.30.
105.00%
12/1/2057
27,028,475
4,615,000
242,288
4,857,288
22,171,188
1,1081559
100,000
20,962,628
5.56
Total
469,597,981
79,655,000
93,369,450
173,024,450
296,573,531
14,828,677
3,200,000
278,544,855
Est. Avg. Payment 2023-2057:
4,857,936
Est. All -in True Interest Cost %:
4.39%
(1) Preliminary and subject to change.
4
3. The CountylTom Gaines}
LOCATION
The County is located in the central portion of the State east of the Cascade Mountain Range and
north of the Saddle Mountains. The County encompasses 2,681 square miles of land and is the
4t" largest county in the State based on land area. In 2021, the County had an estimated
population of 100,800. The City of Ephrata serves as the County seat.
5
q6Y. R�GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND SERVICES {G�}
The County is a general purpose government and provides the following services: sheriff/law
enforcement, fire prevention, road improvement, judicial administration, health and social
services, recreation, general administrative services, sanitary landfill, and transfer stations. The
County government also provides services including property assessment, tax services, issuance
of permits, licenses, and elections.
The County's executive, legislative, and policy-making body is the Board, composed of three
commissioners who are elected at large by the voters of the County to serve overlapping four-
year terms. The County Commissioners meet every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the
Commissioner's Chambers located at the County Courthouse in the City of Ephrata. Following
are the Commissioners and certain officials currently serving the County and the expiration dates
of their current terms.
Danny Stone
Commissioner (Chair)
2024
Rob Jones
Commissioner (Vice Chair)
2024
Cindy Carter
Commissioner
2022
Melissa McKnight
Assessor
2022
Michele Jaderlund
Auditor
2022
Kimberly Allen
Clerk
2022
Kevin McCrae
Prosecuting Attorney
2022
Tom Jones
Sheriff
2022
Darryl Pheasant
Treasurer
2022
D
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION
County Auditor. Ms. Michele Jaderlund was elected as the County Auditor in November 2014.
County Treasurer. Mr. Darryl Pheasant began as the County Treasurer in January 1986, and
has remained in this position for the last 35 years.
County Assessor. Ms. Melissa McKnight was elected as the County Assessor in November 2014.
County Commissioner Danny Stone, currently serves as Chair of the Board of Commissioners,
and is in his first term. Mr. Stone represents District No. 1 and was elected to his first term in
November 2020. Mr. Stone was born in Odessa, Washington. He grew up on a dryland wheat
farm southeast of the town of Almira until age 14 when the family moved to a farm north of
Hartline. Mr. Stone attended Wenatchee Valley College to study agriculture and play college
baseball. He received his AA degree there and then graduated with his BA from Northwest
University in 1980. He married his wife, Sandy, in June of 1979, and after college they moved
to Chewelah, WA to pastor at New Life Christian Center in the nearby community of Addy. They
spent the next 29 years in that area as Mr. Stone pastored at the church. From 1981 to 2001,
Mr. Stone also coached athletics for the local high school in Chewelah. In 2009, Mr. Stone
moved back to the Almira area and began to manage the family farming operation. Mr. Stone's
wife passed away in May of 2022. The couple had five children, two sons & three daughters.
The youngest, a daughter, is the only child not living in the Eastern Washington/North Idaho
region. She makes her home in Switzerland. They also have 7 grandchildren.
Rob .!ones, currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of County Commissioners, and is in his
first term. Rob Jones was elected in November of 2020. He represents the Moses Lake and
Warden areas as Grant County Commissioner of District #2. Rob grew up in Central Washington,
his academic focus was in economics. His current boards are; MACC 911/Finance Committee,
Grant County Covid Leadership Committee, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Solid Waste
Advisory Committee, Homeless Taskforce, WSAC Legislative Steering Committee, Spring
Festival, Freedom Festival, Fair Advisory Committee, Economic Development Council,
7
Washington State Winter Recreation Advisory, Safety and Security, Washington State
Snowmobile Advisory Committee and Moses Lake Chamber Response Team. Rob is an
entrepreneur, and small business owner operating from Main Street to the county fair. He is
here to make a positive difference in his community and represent the people of Grant County
with his elected voice.
Cindy Carter, currently serves as a member of the Board of Commissioners, and is in her fourth
term. Ms. Carter represents District No. 3 and was elected to her first term in November 2006.
Ms. Carter is a current or past member of the following boards/councils/committees: Big Bend
Resource and Conservation & Development; Grant Transit Authority; Grant Health District;
Royal City Festivals; Workforce Development; Washington Affordable Housing; Regional
Homeland Security; Information Services; Homeless Task Force; Safety Security; Solid Waste
Advisory; and is involved in many community clubs and activities. Ms. Carter is an owner
operator of an agricultural business located near Royal City along with her husband for the past
35 years. Ms. Carter attended Brigham Young University and Central Washington University
and has experience in accounting, financial and business management.
COUNTY FACILITIES fTom Gaines}
The Grant County facilities are comprised of numerous facilities that are located primarily in
the City of Ephrata (the "City"), the County seat.
The Courthouse was originally constructed in 1917 and is included on the National Register of
Historic Places. It is a three-story building that houses the District Court, Law library, County
Auditor, Elections Office, Human Resources Department and Central Services.
There is an annex building adjacent to the original Courthouse, that houses the County
Assessor, County Treasurer, County Commissioners, Technical Services, Accounting,
Prosecuting Attorney's District Court Division, and Public Defense.
In 1986, a Criminal Justice facility was constructed near the annex that houses a maximum
security jail, Superior Court, County Clerk's offices, Prosecuting Attorney, and Sheriff's offices.
A Sheriff's Substation is located in the Moses Lake Port District and a work release jail facility is
located in the Ephrata Port District.
A Youth Services facility is also located several blocks from the Courthouse complex.
The Public Works facilities are located a mile from the Courthouse complex and are located in
the Ephrata Port District. The Public Works facilities consist of a main office building and central
County shop. Additionally, there are two shop facilities located in Moses Lake and Quincy, and
other small storage buildings/garages in Hartline, Grant Orchard, Mattawa and Soap Lake.
The Fair Ground facilities, which had upgrades completed in 2008 and 2009, consist of seven
enclosed buildings, multiple barns, including 3 newly constructed barns, two large pavilion
buildings and a rodeo facility. Other facilities of the County include the Mental Health facility
that is located in Moses Lake and a smaller facility in Quincy. The County has a building in
Moses Lake that is utilized by emergency management and has a courtroom for the District
Court. Awing in aformer medical center in Moses Lake contains the Coroner's offices and the
Health District. The County also owns land south of Moses Lake that is utilized as an off-road
vehicle park.
011
COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS {Cindy Carter}
The County had approximately 573 full-time and 22 part-time employees as of June 1, 2022.
State law requires municipalities to bargain collectively with formally recognized collective
bargaining units. Currently, three bargaining organizations represent approximately 58.4% of the
County's employees.
Expiration dates of negotiated agreements with the unions and the respective employees they
represent are shown in the following table.
(1) The County is currently in negotiations will these bargaining units. The County's goal is to settle two-year
contracts.
Source: The County.
The County considers labor relations to be satisfactory with all bargaining units.
10
Courthouse (GCPEA)
60
12/31/2022
District Court (GCPEA)
12
12/31/2022
Youth Services (GCPEA)
12
12/31/20201
Public Works (GCPEA)
79
12/31/20201
Solid Waste (GCPEA)
14
12/31/2022
Admin Services (GCPEA)
6
12/31/20211
Sheriff's Deputies (GCDSA)
49
12/31/20211
Corrections (Teamsters #760)
37
12/31/20211
Sheriff's Support (Teamsters #760)
30
12/31/20211
Case Management
22
12/31/20211
Intake &Crisis
11
12/31/20211
Therapy Services
16
12/31/20211
SLID Counselors
6
12/31/20211
Total
354
(1) The County is currently in negotiations will these bargaining units. The County's goal is to settle two-year
contracts.
Source: The County.
The County considers labor relations to be satisfactory with all bargaining units.
10
4. County Debt/Taxes {Darryl Pheasant}
DEBT RATIOS
The County's direct debt is moderate and overall debt ratios are low.
Assessed Valuation Per Capita .................................................................
Direct Debt Per Capital ............................................................................
Direct and Overlapping Debt Per Capital ................................................
Direct Debt to Assessed Valuation' .........................................................
Direct and Overlapping Debt to Assessed Valuation' ..............................
I Preliminary; subject to change.
FUTURE DEBT FINANCING
The County does not have any near-term plans to issue additional debt.
NON -VOTED DEBT CAPACITY
$1531465
$1,003
$3,673
0.65%
2.39%
With $102,062,000 of non -voted debt (preliminary; subject to change) outstanding following
issuance of the Bonds, the County will have over $132 million of remaining non -voted debt
capacity.
2022 Ass e sse d Va I u e:
CALULA`TION OF LEGAL DEBT LIMIT
Limited Tax (Non -voted,) General Obligation Debt Capacity (LSO/o of AV)
Less: Outstanding Bonds (2014.,2015 Ref i of 2007.,2016, 2017 Ref i of 2010)
Less: Future LTGC1 Bond for Criminal Justice
Remaining Non -voted Ll rn ite d Tax General ObIilgation Debt Capacity
Unlimited Ta x (Voter A r) r)rova 1) General ObIIgatIon Debt Ca oa c1tv (2.594o of AV)
Less'. Outstanding UTGO Bond
Less'. Outstanding Limited Tax General Obligation Debt (from above)
Less.* Future Voted Bonds secured by voted bond levy
Remaini ng General Obligation Debt Capacity (with Voter Approval)
(1) .Paid from the County's Cuffent Expense Fund
(2) Paidfrom o VoterApproved Excess Levyfor the life of the Bond.
Current Future Bond
-----------
$15,622,6931091 $15,622,693,091
$2341340,396 $234,340,396
($2,407�000) ($2211-4071 000) (1)
$0 ($79,655s000) (1)
$21.,933,306 $132,278,396
$390,567,327 $3901567,327
$0 $0 (2)
($22,407,00D) ($102,062,000) (1)
$0 $0 (2)
$368,160,1327 $288,5051327
Note:
A portion of the County's outstanding bonds (Le, 2014LTGO., 2015LTGO Refunding; 2016 LTGO,. and 2017LTGO Refunding Bonds)
mature in 2027, which drops the annual payments by $810.,000 peryear. Another portion matures in 2035, which drops the annual
payments by an additional $470,.000 peryear.
11
N Co
DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
The following table provides the annual debt service schedule for the County's outstanding non -
voted general obligation debt and the Bonds.
Debt Service Requirements - Non -Voted General obligation Debt
1 Preliminary, subject to change; interest rates are estimated.
Total
Debt Service (1)
5, 336,142
7,187,135
7,185, 060
7,188, 098
7,199, 506
7,190,994
6.3321252
6, 336,102
6,3361138
6.3861450
6, 387.300
6, 388,100
61 388, 650
6, 383, 700
5,923, 250
5, 920, 200
51 916, 750
4, 857, 700
4, 859, 950
41 857, 450
4, 855, 200
4, 857, 950
4, 859, 563
41859,875
4, 858, 625
4, 855, 550
41855,388
4, 857, 613
4, 856, 700
4, 857, 388
4, 859,150
4, 856, 463
41859,063
4, 856,163
41857,500
4, 857, 288
202, 280, 402
12
2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 Bonds
2022 Bonds
Date
Principal
Interest
Annual
Principal (1)
Interest
Annual 1
2022
11 548, 000
7911467
2,3391467
11970,000
11026,675
2, 996, 675
2023
11586,000
742,935
21328,935
850,000
41008,200
4,8581200
2024
11639,000
690,360
21329,360
890,000
3,9651700
4, 855, 700
2025
11696,000
635,898
2,3311898
935,000
31921,200
41856,200
2026
117611000
579, 056
21340,056
985,000
31874,450
41 859, 450
2027
1, 811, 000
519, 794
2.3301794
1, 035, 000
31825,200
41860,200
2028
11015,000
458,802
1, 473, 802
1, 085, 000
3, 773, 450
4, 858, 450
2029
11047,000
429,902
11476,902
1,140, 000
31719,200
41859,200
2030
11 079, 000
399,938
11478,938
1,195, 000
31662,f 200
41 857, 200
2031
1,160, 000
369,000
1, 529, 000
11 255, 000
31602,450
41857,450
2032
11205,000
322, 600
11 527, 600
11 320, 000
3, 539, 700
41859,700
2033
11255,000
274,400
11529,400
1.3851000
31473,700
41858,700
2034
11305,000
224,200
11529,200
1, 455, 000
3, 404, 450
41859,450
2035
11355,000
172,000
11527,000
1, 525, 000
3, 331, 700
41856,700
2036
945,000
117,800
1, 062, 800
11 605, 000
31255,450
41 860, 450
2037
980,000
80,000
11060,000
11685,000
31175, 200
41860,200
2038
11020,000
40, 800
1, 060, 800
11 765, 000
3, 090, 950
41855,950
2039
0
0
0
11855,000
3, 002, 700
4, 857, 700
2040
0
0
0
11950,000
21 909, 950
41 859, 950
2041
0
0
0
21045,000
2, 812, 450
4, 857, 450
2042
0
0
0
2,145, 000
2,7101200
41855,200
2043
0
0
0
21 255, 000
2, 602, 950
4,8571950
2044
0
0
0
2;375,000
21484,563
41859,563
2045
0
0
0
21 500, 000
2, 359, 875
41859,875
2046
0
0
0
21630,000
21 228, 625
41 858, 625
2047
0
0
0
2,3651000
2, 090, 550
41855,550
2048
0
0
0
2, 910, 000
11945,388
41855,388
2049
0
0
0
3,0651000
1,3921613
41857,613
2050
0
0
0
3, 225, 000
11631,700
4, 856, 700
2051
0
0
0
31 395, 000
1,4621388
41857,388
2052
0
0
0
3, 575, 000
1, 284,150
41859,150
2053
0
0
0
3.3601000
11 096, 463
41856,463
2054
0
0
0
3, 960, 000
899,063
41859,063
2055
0
0
0
4,165, 000
691,163
41856,163
2056
0
0
0
41385,000
472, 500
41 857, 500
2057
0
0
0
41 615, 000
2421288
41 857, 288
Total
22, 407, 000
6,8481952
29, 255, 952
79, 655, 000
93, 369, 450
173, 024, 450
1 Preliminary, subject to change; interest rates are estimated.
Total
Debt Service (1)
5, 336,142
7,187,135
7,185, 060
7,188, 098
7,199, 506
7,190,994
6.3321252
6, 336,102
6,3361138
6.3861450
6, 387.300
6, 388,100
61 388, 650
6, 383, 700
5,923, 250
5, 920, 200
51 916, 750
4, 857, 700
4, 859, 950
41 857, 450
4, 855, 200
4, 857, 950
4, 859, 563
41859,875
4, 858, 625
4, 855, 550
41855,388
4, 857, 613
4, 856, 700
4, 857, 388
4, 859,150
4, 856, 463
41859,063
4, 856,163
41857,500
4, 857, 288
202, 280, 402
12
MAJOR PROPERTY TAXPAYERS {Darryl Pheasant}
The following table lists the largest ten taxpayers within the County for tax collection year 2022.
Microsoft
Data Center
$2,684,536,,070
17.20%
Oath Holdings Inc. (fka Yahoo Inc.)
Data Center
404,189,470
2.59
Vantage Data Centers LLC
Data Center
1471581,345
0.95
Intergate Quincy LLC
Data Center
1441595,310
0.93
Boeing Co.
Aviation
124,555,820
0.80
GI Tare Quincy LLC
Data Center
123,484,460
0.79
Intergate Quincy 11, LLC
Data Center
111;083,,295
0.71
Alaska Air Group Inc.
Aviation
971215,450
0.62
BNSF Railway Company
Transportation
96,1685,635
0.62
SGL Composite LLC
Manufacturing
841825,105
0.54
Total:
99.99
$4,,0181751,960
25.75
Source: Grant County Assessors Office.
PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION RECORD {Darryl Pheasant}
The following table shows the County's regular and excess property tax collection record for 2017
through the first half of 2022.
Current Expense Fund Tax Collections
2022
$1.323
$20,102,581
$11,124,946(l)
55.34%(')
N/A
55.15%
2021
1.503
19,716,704
19,409,997
98.44
$19,570,052
99.26
2020
1.532
19,1415,137
19,053,506
98.14
19,3051543
99.44
2019
1.600
18,6641589
18,471,181
98.96
18,554,141
99.41
2018
1.664
18,3301292
17,896,878
97.64
18,301,594
99-84
2017
1.720
171679,363
17,185,428
97.21
17,1677,903
99.99
I Partial year information, second half of tax is due October 31.
Source: County Treasurer's Office.
13
DIVERSITY OF TAX REVENUES {Darryl Pheasant}
In addition to regular property taxes, the County also collects various other taxes, including
various sales & use taxes and a real estate excise tax, among others. The table below shows the
amounts collected from the various taxes.
Tax Revenues by Source
Local Sales &Use Tax:
Special Purpose Sales
& Use Tax:
Emergency
Communications Sales
& Use Tax:
Rural County Sales &
Use Tax:
Affordable &
Supportive Housing
Sales &Use Tax:
Hotel/Motel Sales &
Use Tax:
Enhanced 911
Switched Access Lines
Sales &Use Tax:
Enhanced 911 Radio
Access Lines Sales &
Use Tax:
Enhanced 911
Interconnected Voice
over Internet Protocol
Sales &Use Tax:
Criminal Justice Sales
& Use Tax:
Law and Justice Tax:
Leasehold Tax (A):
Admissions Tax:
REET 1:
REET 2:
Tota
°Wa
$ 6,569,619
$ 7,044,893
$ 7,534,762
$ 81582,390
$ 9,341,926
$10,449,002
0
25,677
26,422
27,209
2,6411481
4,757,713
1,949,520
1,763,283
2,030,132
1,843,466
2,131, 680
1,932,106
0 0 0
5941135 6061275 665,818
136,935 118,050 105,527
21392,608 2,534,959 21963,290
21169,852 2,353,365 2,701,820
0 215,391 269,688
7671F474 441,696 889,170
93,125 98,672 94,185
613,439 633,381 665,269 687,170 722,986 762,307
24,598 28,088 35,517 39,350 51,900 66,690
11973,445
21030,472
21131,684
2,392,611
21534,976
2,963,296
- -
- -
- -
- -
2,599,859
4,757,713
388,712
474,551
464,374
484,656
479,280
511,558
1,187,702
1,243,301
1,389,963
1,533,957
252
1,483,320
197,045
644,565
969,446
923,872
1,149,206
1,422,318
1,317,839
644,420
968,754
925,322
1,148,885
1,421,787
$16,716,272
$17,367,271
$19,021,322
$21,019,596
$23,714,975
$35,513,857
Source: The County.
(A) Approved by the voters in November 2019.
14
Local Sales and Use Tax Distributions. The County imposes a general 1.0% sales and use tax as
a percent of the selling price for value on any retail sale or use of tangible personal property
within the County upon which the State also imposes a sales and use tax. (A portion of the total
sales and use tax collected is a local tax and is returned to the city or county or certain other local
jurisdictions where the sales transaction took place.) The County's sales and use tax is collected
by the State Department of Revenue (the "Department") under a contract with the County that
provides fora deduction by the Department of 1% (not exceeding 2% of the tax collected) for the
Department's administration costs. The Department distributes the County's portion of the retail
sales and use tax on a monthly basis.
Law and Justice Sales Tax Distributions. The Law and Justice Tax is an additional local sales and
use tax of 0.3% for providing funds for costs associated with criminal justice and law
enforcement. The County voters approved the tax in November 2019. The tax is levied only by
the County and is imposed County -wide, but the receipts are shared with the cities. Of the
revenue collected, 60% is retained by the County and the remaining 40 percent is distributed to
cities in the County on a per capita basis. The County anticipates budgeting the revenue
collected from the tax for debt service payments on the Bonds. There is no expiration date on
the law and justice sales tax.
Criminal Justice Sales Tax Distributions. The Criminal Justice Tax is an additional local sales and
use tax of 0.1% for funding criminal justice programs. The criminal justice sales tax distribution
is based on population. This tax is levied only by the County and is imposed County -wide, but
the receipts are shared with the cities. The adoption of this tax does not require a vote of the
people. Of the revenue collected for criminal justice, 1.5% is retained for administration. Of the
amount remaining, 10% is distributed to the County and 90% to cities and counties on a per capita
basis based on their official April 1 populations.
Real Estate Excise Tax Distributions. Another source of tax revenue for the County is a real estate
excise tax, which is levied on each sale of unincorporated real property within the County at the
15
rate of 0.50% of the selling price, unless a specific exemption is claimed. The County Treasurer
collects this tax and retains a percentage of the gross proceeds.
Rural County Tax Distribution. The additional local option sales and use tax authorized by
RCW 82.14.370, is another source of tax revenue for the County. Currently, the tax may be
imposed by counties that have a population density of less than 100 persons per square mile, as
determined annually by the State's office of financial management. The County's population
density is approximately 33.3 persons per square mile. The County began receiving distribution
of this tax in September 1998. The tax is scheduled to expire in September 2023. The local option
sales and use tax cannot exceed nine one -hundredths of one percent (0.09%). The County
imposes the full amount of the 0.09%.
Lodging Taxes. A county may impose two types of lodging taxes. The basic tax is a 2.0% tax on
the furnishing of lodging under RCW 67.28.180. This tax is taken as a credit against the 6.5%
state sales tax, so that the total tax that a patron pays in retail sales tax plus the lodging tax
combined is equal to the retail sales tax in the jurisdiction. Cities can levy this tax within their
corporate limits and counties can levy the tax in unincorporated areas and within cities that do
not levy the tax.
A county may also levy an additional lodging tax at a rate of up to 4.0% (unless a higher rate was
previously authorized under prior state statute). RCW 67.28.181, 67.40.130 and 36.100.040. Up
to one-half, or a maximum of 2.0% of this amount can be credited against the state sales tax. The
remaining taxes are paid in addition to all other state and local sales taxes.
16
Historical Taxable Retail Sales fDarry l Pheasant}
The following provides historical taxable retail sales and use collections within Ephrata, Moses
Lake and the County.
Historical Taxable Retail Sales Taxes
Grant County
2021
$258,943,272
$1,075,528,587
$2,677,460,596
2020
208,723,793
844,982,354
2,4081821,194
2019
187,947,574
807,519,558
218221633,532
2018
172,931,645
7621840,707
21489,444,199
2017
166,898,633
737,663,004
11877,1931497
Source: State Department of Revenue.
The average annual growth rate in taxable retail sales within the County from 2010 through 2021
was approximately 7.4%.
17
Revenues
Taxes
$26,947,454
$28,168,997
$291485,349
LT
$31,908,297
$351242,620
$33,417,763
Licenses and Permits
S
134,621
157,751
1441992
108,125
^TEr
5. CountyOperationsFinancial fKatie Smithl
Intergovernmental
592949934
516079139
69083,951
Audited Audited Audited
General Fund 001
Audited
Audited
Unaudited
Budget
2016 2017 2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Reserved Beginning Cash & Investments $0 $0 $0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Unreserved Beginning Cash & Investments 9,844,711 9,975,482 8,017,460
101978,389
14,396,016
18,240,138
17,339,223
Prior Period Adjustments 49,239 298,455 249,282
5,343
(104,031)
10808
0
Revenues
Taxes
$26,947,454
$28,168,997
$291485,349
$31,485,975
$31,908,297
$351242,620
$33,417,763
Licenses and Permits
197,466
134,621
157,751
1441992
108,125
1,3689088
1,201,107
Intergovernmental
592949934
516079139
69083,951
6,515,385
6,00809
59846,758
69056,497
Charges for Services
3,098,308
392679205
3,798,169
4,05502
3,165,180
4,073,227
4,369,522
Fines and Penalties
1,848,037
1,676,580
1,861,131
199379512
1,612029
19408,848
1,7109536
Miscellaneous
29933,934
2,898,093
3428,941
3,401,611
4,0279909
3,6179873
3,408,825
Capital Contributions
0
0
0
0
0
0
$604,265
Other Financing Sources
0
0
0
0
0
0
4,825,059
Total Revenues
$40,320,133
$419752,635
$449815,292
$47,541,077
$469830,609
$511557,414
$54,989,308
Expenditures
General Government
$18,416,458
$17,649,200
$19,9413387
$201894,513
$21,565,072
$23,109,975
$27,300,996
Public Safety
16,385,394
17,101,288
181120,213
19,201,526
19,173,342
20,4859328
229692,714
Physical Environment
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Utilities
22,531
0
0
-15
0
0
0
Transportation
6,105
7,116
7,151
6,601
7,161
7,160
7,200
Natural & Economic Environment
831,853
1,035,777
882,686
804,876
9219137
9141587
1,118,217
Physical & Mental Health
0
0
0
0
0
0
$604,265
Social Services
651,514
668,424
710,246
737,518
766,829
848,045
920065
Culture & Recreation
1,923,722
2,189557
202,488
1,878,538
1,432,904
1,980,100
2571,441
Debt Service
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Capital Outlay
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other Expenditures
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other Financing Uses
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Expenditures
$38,237,577
$3856515362
$4158249171
$439523,557
$43,866,445
$47,345,195
$54,611,533
Excess (Deficiency) Revenues over Expenditures $202,556 $39101,273 $2,9919121 $49017,520 $2,964,164 $492129219 $377,776
Other Increases in Fund Resources
$284,123
$332458
$289,038
$567,143
$183,922
$346,040
$867,100
Debt Proceeds
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Transfers In
65,506
72,257
71,438
72,833
1,155,336
189,455
5739865
Special or Extraordinary Items
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Custodial Activities
50,710
72
82
1,429
969517
0
0
Other Resources
29996
391
196339825
279845
0
1489009
305400
Total Other Increases in Fund Resources
$119,212
$72,720
$11705,345
$102,107
$1,2511853
$337,464
$604,265
Other Decreases in Fund Resources
Capital Expenditures
$284,123
$332458
$289,038
$567,143
$183,922
$346,040
$867,100
Debt Service
0
0
6,113
0
0
0
0
Transfers 0 u t
1,805,406
5,066,090
169,040
84069
67,460
502408
62,940
Special or Extraordinary Items
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Custodial Activities
30,709
31,922
20,628
559243
0
0
0
Other Uses
0
0
1500,000
0
16,487
309803
52,000
Total Other Decreases in Fund Resources
29120,238
51430,470
1084,819
707,355
267,869
59559,251
982,040
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Investments
$81,530
($2,2561477)
$2,7119647
$3,412,272
$3,948,148
($1,0095568)
$0
Ending Cash and Investments
Reserved
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
Unreserved
9,975,480 8,017,460
1078,389
145396,004
185240,133
175339,228
17,339,223
Total Unreserved Ending Cash and Investments
$9,975,480 $8,017,460
$10,978,389
$14,396,004
$18,240,133
$17,339,228
$17,339,223
Cash as percent of Expenditures:
26.09% 20.74%
26.25%
33.08%
41.58%
36.62%
31.75%
Road Fund Audited Audited Audited Audited Audited Unaudited Budget
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Reserved Beginning Cash & Investments $6,767,818 $8,185,451 $5,6089105 $4,7735257 $5,3469401 $6,2879072 $9,263,733
Unreserved Beginning Cash & Investments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Prior Period Adjustments 105,784 (1,278,369) (489862) 517 502 (29917) 0
Revenues
$0
$2569269
$317,317
$5949650
$29195,628
$83,722
$100,000
Taxes
$9,1879120
$9,4539455
$9,566,060
$9,962,291
$1091699198
$1094289951
$99602,700
Licenses and Permits
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Intergovernmental
9,1989634
139686,825
1094069257
159403,035
77884,678
11,0559333
14,436,908
Charges for Services
4489898
305,685
393,769
255543
98,425
127,463
118,133
Fines and Penalties
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Miscellaneous
51541
163,791
773,621
229,575
4,263
31290
51,000
Capital Contributions
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other Financing Sources
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Revenues
$1898869193
$23,609,756
$21,139,707
$25,850,444
$18,156,564
$2196159037
$24,2089741
Expenditures
General Government
$0
$2569269
$317,317
$5949650
$29195,628
$83,722
$100,000
Public Safety
2559407
203,567
213,877
272,942
278,464
158,614
150,000
Physical Environment
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Utilities
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Transportation
13,308,928
15,6465224
15,517,224
159949,644
14,971,347
145954,515
15,5935402
Natural & Economic Environment
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Physical & Mental Health
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Social Services
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Culture & Recreation
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Debt Service
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Capital Outlay
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other Expenditures
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other Financing Uses
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Expenditures
$13,5641335
$16,106,060
$16,048,418
$16,817,236
$175445,439
$15,1965851
$15,843,402
Excess (Deficiency) Revenues over Expenditures $5,321,858 $7,503,696 $5,091,289 $9,033,208 $711,125 $63418,186 $8,3655339
Other Increases in Fund Resources
Debt Proceeds
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Transfers In
0
0
0
0
85,390
0
615,961
Special or Extraordinary Items
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Custodial Activities
250
0
0
104,906
0
0
0
Other Resources
14,923
1779780
2029902
0
1,803,506
779018
10,000
Total Other Increases in Fund Resources
$159173
$1779780
$202,902
$104,906
$19888,896
$77,018
$625061
Other Decreases in Fund Resources
Capital Expenditures
$59016,876
$8,3229082
$5,413,467
$7,6979539
$195619791
$395159626
$8,141,300
Debt Service
501
0
0
0
0
0
0
Transfers Out
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Special or Extraordinary Items
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Custodial Activities
58704
658,370
6669711
8679951
0
0
0
Other Uses
0
0
0
0
989063
0
8505000
Total Other Decreases in Fund Resources
596059181
899809452
69080,178
8,5659490
1,659,854
3,515,626
8091,300
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Investments
($2689150) ($19298,976)
($785,987)
$572,624
$940,167
$29979,578
$0
Ending Cash and Investments
Reserved
Unreserved
Total Ending Cash and Investments
Cash as percent of Eipenditures:
805,452 5,608,106 4,773,256 5,346,398 6,287,070 9,263,733 9,2631733
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
$81185,452 $5,608,106 $4,773,256 $5,346,398 $6,287,070 $992639733 $99263,733
60.35% 34.82% 29.74% 31.79% 36.04% 60.96% 58.47%
19
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC {Tom Gained
The COVID-19 pandemic currently is affecting many parts of the world, including the State and
the County. On January 31, 2020, the Secretary of the United States Health and Human Services
Department declared a public health emergency for the United States and on March 13, 2020,
the President of the United States declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a national emergency. On
February 29, 2020, Washington's Governor declared a state of emergency due to the number of
confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State, directing State agencies to use all resources necessary
to prepare for and respond to the outbreak. In late 2021, the Governor began reopening counties
in the State. COVID-19 rates of infection remain variable and subject to unanticipated increases.
The County has and continues to coordinate its response to the pandemic with local public health
departments, as well as the Washington State Department of Health.
The County is currently reviewing potential revenue impacts on its Current Expense Fund and on
operations. As of December 1, 2021, actual County -wide revenue receipts have not been
materially negatively impacted, and revenues are being received as expected.
CYBERSECURITY
The County employs a complex technology environment to conduct its operations and support
the community it serves. Although unlikely due to the County's ongoing security measures, a
cybersecurity breach could damage County systems and cause material disruption to operations
and services. The cost to remedy such damage or protect against future attacks could be
substantial. Security breaches could expose the County to litigation and other legal risks, which
could cause the County to incur costs related to legal or regulatory claims. The County has
implemented measures intended to protect its systems from security breaches and has
maintained cyber liability insurance since 2015; however in the event of a security breach there
can be no assurance that insurance proceeds, if available, will be sufficient to cover the County's
losses or that the County will be able to promptly remedy impairments to its operations.
20
Cod
6. The EconomylBrant Mayo, Danny Stone, Cindy Carter, Rob Jones, Melissa McKnight}
OVERVIEW OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY
Grant County (the "County") spans over 100 miles and encompasses 2,791 square miles,
stretching from the Grand Coulee Dam in the north to Priest Rapids Dam in the southwest. The
County has 10 port districts that use tax revenue to make infrastructure improvements to help
grow the economy of the area.
The County's economy is based primarily on widely diverse agricultural production and related
planting, harvesting and storage of locally grown agricultural products such as wheat, barley, corn
and potatoes. Due to competitive electricity rates, technology storage and industrial
manufacturing firms are of growing importance to the County's economy.
The cities of Moses Lake ("Moses Lake") (population 25,760) and Ephrata ("Ephrata"') (population
8,575), which is the County Seat, offer employment and trade opportunities.
Wanapum Dam Priest Rapids Dam Grand Coulee Dam
The County lies in the northern portion of one of the world's largest irrigation projects, the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation's Columbia Basin Irrigation Project (the "Irrigation Project"). The Grand
Coulee Dam (the "Dam"), one of the largest concrete dams in the world, is the source of both
water and relatively inexpensive hydroelectric power for the Irrigation Project. The Dam is the
largest producer of hydropower in the U.S. and on of the top ten largest in the world. A portion
of revenue from electricity generated by the dam is sold to help repay part of the cost of the
Irrigation Project. In the total Irrigation Project area, which includes portions of Adams, Franklin
and Grant counties, approximately 671,000 acres of land are being irrigated. With additional
21
canals and pumping facilities, the Irrigation Project has been expanding and irrigating over one
million acres of Columbia Basin farmland.
Agricultural Production
The Irrigation Project has made possible a highly diversified agricultural base in the area. Sixty-
seven commercial crops are raised within the Irrigation Project, including small grains, hay crops,
vegetables, tree fruits, seeds, and miscellaneous field crops, including beans and mint. The
Irrigation Project includes about 36,000 acres of land -bearing fruit, primarily apples and cherry
trees. Some of the other local fruits harvested include: apricots, berries, grapes, peaches, pears,
plums and prunes.
Manufacturing and Industry
Food processing is the one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the County although many
other manufacturing facilities have located or upgraded facilities in the area. J.R. Simplot
employs approximately 280 people and produces frozen French fries and dehydrated potato
products. Basic American Foods employs approximately 210 people at its dehydrated potato
processing plant. Plant National Frozen Foods employs approximately 420 people at it vegetable
processing facility. Royal Ridge Fruit employs approximately 180 people at its fruit processing
plant.
Genie Industries, a manufacturer of lift equipment employing approximately 650 people, has
been located in the area since 1999 and leases a facility in the area. D&L Foundry employs
approximately 180 people in manufacturing of iron construction casting and manhole cover
manufacturing. Moses Lake Industries, Inc. manufactures industrial chemicals and employs
approximately 375 people at the facility, which includes the corporate headquarters.
Transportation
The Grant County Airport, owned by the Port of Moses Lake, is a certified air carrier airport and
is used by The Boeing Company. The airport has a 13,500 -foot runway, one of the largest in the
nation. Boeing uses the airport for flight -testing and uses its building space primarily for storage.
The airport was designated a foreign trade zone in 1994. Smaller municipal airports and private
landing strips throughout the County are used for private aircraft and aerial crop dusting.
22
Commercial bus lines and several motor freight trucking firms serve the County and rail service
is provided by Burlington Northern Santa Fe and passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak.
Recreation and Tourism
Due to the large number of lakes and streams in the County, several types of fish are abundant,
making fishing a popular activity as well as bird hunting and other water sports. The Grand
County Off Road Vehicle area (one of the largest in the region) is located four miles outside Moses
Lake in the sand dunes. The sand dunes area is located on the southern tip of Moses Lake with
rolling sand dunes. The Wanapum and Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Projects, owned by the Grant
County Public Utility District, are tourist attractions with viewing areas and information centers.
Water recreation opportunities draw visitors to Banks Lake, the equalizing reservoir created by
Grand Coulee Dam. The lake is 27 miles long, with about 27,000 water surface acres.
Education
Big Bend Community College is a fully accredited State community college located in Moses Lake.
The college offers transfer and two-year technical course and serves Grant, Adams and
southwestern Lincoln counties.
POPULATION TRENDS
Historical population statistics for Ephrata, Moses Lake, the County and the State are shown
below.
2021
81575
25,760
100,800
71766,975
2020
8,477
25,146
99,123
7,707,047
2019
8,420
24,694
97,734
7,582,481
2018
8,348
24,075
96,214
7,464,069
2017
81176
22,832
94,289
7,344,589
Source: Washington State Office of Financial Management for inter -census estimates as of April 1.
23
MAJOR EmPLOYERS{Brant Mayol
The major employers in the County are as follows:
Moses Lake School District
Samaritan Healthcare
Grant County Government
Grand County PUD
Genie Industries, Inc.
Quincy School District
Plant National Frozen Foods
Moses Lake Industries
Ephrata School District
Moses Lake Community Health
Confluence Health
J.R. Simplot Co.
Lamb Weston, Warden Plant
Basic American Foods
Big Bend Community College
Columbia Basin Hospital
D&LFoundry, Inc.
Royal Ridge Fruit
Lineage Logistics
SGL Group
JoysonSafpt«
Microsoft
International Paper
Amway/Nutrilite
Education
Healthcare
Government
Electric Utility
Aerial Work Platforms
Education
Corn & Pea Processing
Industrial Chemicals
Education
Healthcare
Healthcare
Frozen French Fries /& Dehydrated Potato Products
Frozen French Fries
Dehydrated Potato Processing
Education
Healthcare
Manhole Cover Manufacturing
Fruit Processing
Cold Storage
Carbon Fiber
Automotive Air Bags
Data Center
Corrugated Box Manufacturing
Botanical Extraction
Source Grant County Economic DevelopmentCouncil.
l.S2O
720
695
672
650
540
420
375
340
321
310
280
230
210
192
1@O
180
180
160
257
149
135
124
lOO
24
COUNTY ASSESSED VALUE {Melissa McKnight)
The County's assessed value has been largely stable over the past decade, with healthy
compound annual growth of 8.4% for the last 5 years, and AV did not decline more than 6.3%
during the Great Recession.
$18j,00010001000
$16,000,000,000
$x.4,000,000,000
$12,000,000,000
$x.0,000,000,000
$8,000,1000,000
$6,000,000,000
$41000,000,1000
$2,000,000,000
$o
Grant County
Assessed Value
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
25
New
as
• • •
Value
• a •
•
Construction
• ' of A
2022
$151622,693,091
16.2%
$276,,805,,474
2.1%
2021
13,440,750,820
4.2%
143,621,369
1.1 %
2020
12,902,683,138
8.1%
212,076,082
1.8%
2019
11,938,988,211
6.6%
26517851705
2.4%
2018
11,197,837,685
7.2%
265,785,705
2.5%
2017
10,444,138,245
4.3%
2261F995,461
2.3%
2016
10,016,181,141
8.1%
287,045,913
3.1%
2015
9,267,414,006
7.2%
2141529,745
2.5%
2014
8,643,795,844
5.1%
79,418,678
1.0%
2013
81223,879,677
-6.3%
275,176,763
3.1%
2012
81775,292,684
-3.1%
877,038,415
9.7%
Source: Grant County Assessor's office.
$18j,00010001000
$16,000,000,000
$x.4,000,000,000
$12,000,000,000
$x.0,000,000,000
$8,000,1000,000
$6,000,000,000
$41000,000,1000
$2,000,000,000
$o
Grant County
Assessed Value
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
25
Examples of housing currently available in the County {melissa McKnight}
$298,250 Quincy
$399,000 Quincy
$363,000 Ephrata
$474,,950 Moses Lake
$536,660 Quincy
$625,000 Moses Lake
$730,000 Moses Lake
$1.3 million Moses Lake
26
According to Zillow, the typical home value in Grant County is $347,384. This value is seasonally
adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Grant County home values have gone
up 21% over the past year.
Grant County Market
Overview
Data th-mugh Jun 30, 2022
$34.7,384 mij 0
No data 1-yrforetast
Zillow, ndex
All homes I -yr 5 -yr Max
Jun 2022 — Grant County, $347/K
2013 2014 .2.015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
$368K
$28,3K
$198K
$113K
27
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS {Brant Mayo}
MOSES LAKE DEVELOPMENTS
Battery Technology Manufacturing
In May 2022, California-based technology company Sila Nanotechnologies Inc. announced the
purchase of a 600,000 square -foot facility in Moses Lake. Meanwhile, its Woodinville, WA -based
competitor, Group 14 Technologies, is building a manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, slated to
open in the second half of 2023. The site has not yet been announced, but is expected to be co -
located with REC Silicon, a major Moses Lake manufacturer of silane — silicon gas- an essential
component in
the
component of
rechargeable
batteries made
by Group 14.
Sila will also be
manufacturing
lithium -ion
anode battery
Sila Nanotechnologies manufacturing facility
materials at automotive volumes and quality at its Moses Lake facility. The components can also
be used in cell phones. In a May 4, 2022 King5 article about the announcement, the company
said it was drawn by the region's abundant hydropower. Sila is making an initial investment to
deliver silicon -based anode production sufficient to power batteries in 100,000 to 500,000
electric vehicles and 500 million mobile phones annually. Production lines at the facility will begin
in the second half of 2024 and reach full production in the first half of 2025. The Moses Lake site
has the potential for exponential growth that could power 2 million to 10 million electric vehicles
per year, the article said. The facility will employ hundreds.
According to a May 2022 article in Chemical & Engineering News, the US Department Of Energy
has announced over $3 billion in funding to support domestic manufacturing of battery materials
in an effort to build a US -based supply chain for lithium -ion batteries used in electric cars.
W
z CO
"'3��a'ruayst�
REC Solar Grade Silicon LLC ("'REC"), a manufacturer of polysilicon for use in solar panel
manufacturing, completed, in 2009, a $970
million expansion of its plant in Moses Lake,
creating 700 jobs and an estimated 1,132
indirect jobs. The facility is 20 floors tall and
houses several fluid bed reactors that can
produce 6,500 metric tons of polysilicon.
REC is among the world's largest producers
of polysilicon and wafers for solar
applications, and a manufacturer of solar cells and modules. Founded in Norway, REC is an
international solar company, employing more than 3,000 people worldwide.
Since 2014, REC has been affected by trade disputes with China. In the early part of the decade,
when China was vying to be the dominant global low-cost solar panel producer, REC had invested
$1.7 billion in its Moses Lake manufacturing process and expanded its workforce. U.S. solar panel
manufacturers complained to U.S. trade authorities abo=ut Chinese government subsidies to their
competitors, prompting tariffs. In retaliation, China imposed a 57 percent tariff on U.S.-made
polysilicon. REC partially shut down the Moses Lake plant in 2019, when tariffs made it
uneconomical to sell into China's large solar market. China represented approximately 80% of
REC's market before the trade dispute.
During the past few years, REC has been operating at only 25 percent capacity, but things are
turning around in 2022. According to a June 16, 2022 article in Chemical & Engineering News,
REC plans to restart its Moses Lake polysilicon plant in 2023 to create a US -based supply chain
for solar panels, stretching from raw materials to finished solar cells. REC is negotiating with a
long-standing supplier, Ferroglobe, to secure a US -based source of silicon metal, the raw material
used to make polysilicon. REC plans to sell its polysilicon to the solar panel manufacturer QCells,
which has a factory in Georgia. The company decided to reopen its facility after an investment of
over $200 million from Q Cells' parent company, South Korea's Hanwha Solutions. Polysilicon
also has applications for lightweight batteries, especially in electric vehicles, and two new Moses
Lake car battery manufacturers will provide an alternate market for REC.
ce
The expansion of Everett -based Aviation Technical
'0 N -
Services, the largest 3rd -party, single -site transport�;,,
TECHNIC A SERVICES,
aircraft maintenance provider in North America, to
Moses Lake signals the emerging growth of another industry for Grant County: aerospace.
State and regional leaders celebrated the growth of the aerospace industry in Grant County
during an ATS ribbon -cutting at the Grant County International Airport in April, 2013.
The aircraft maintenance and repair company now occupies a 102,000 sf hangar at the airport.
According to a recent Port of Moses Lake newsletter, ATS has committed to leasing the hangar
for five years, with options to renew.
The expansion of ATS to Moses Lake created about 50 new jobs. The company plans to add an
additional 100 jobs over the next few years, depending on customer projects. ATS has partnered
with Big Bend Community Colleges Aviation programs for internships allowing the local
workforce a direct path to employment.
In April 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration
certified AeroTEC to repair aircraft accessories, making TE"
-ro
the company the 5th certified repair station in Moses T, F 51 T I N C, � F, A'I r?,' A N
Lake, along with Sonico, Aviation Technical Services, Mark Airmotive and Big Bend Community
College. AeroTEC anticipates receiving airframe and power plant certification from the FAA in
2019. AeroTEC specializes in aircraft testing and making prototype equipment, and the company
hosts Mitsubishi as the company tests and seeks to certify its MRJ regional jet.
Sonico, another authorized repair station, broke
ground on a new facility in Moses Lake in 2016 and
completed the building in 2018. The company employs
44 people and has an annual payroll of $2.6 million.
30
AstaReal Plant AstaReal Technologies
opened- its $34 million, 59,000 sf
manufacturing plant on 10 acres in Moses
La ke i n 2014 to make an anti-
inflammatory agent for health
supplements. The companv chose Moses
Lake for its expansion due to its affordable power and workforce. The plant employs 45 people,
and produces natural astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, for
Japanese parent company Fuji Chemical Industry, a global pharmaceutical company that sells its
products in more than 20 countries.
31
Quincy Economic Developments
Data Center Boom
Data center activity began in Quincy with interest from Microsoft and Yahoo! in 2005. Quincy is
uniquely attractive due to fast fiber optic internet speeds, low-cost power, large parcels of land
available at a low cost per acre, and a State data center tax incentive bill, which was expanded
and extended by House Bill 1846 in 2022 (signed into law by the governor in March 2022).
Sabey, Vantage Data Centers, H5 Data Centers (all wholesalers), Yahoo! (now operating under
Verizon's Oath brand), Microsoft, Titan Data Center (Ask.com) and NTT Data all have a data
center presence in Quincy. Dallas -based CyrusOne purchased 45 acres of land for a data center
in the area in 2016, and is offering designs for build -to -suit projects for hyper scale clients.
Combined data center space of these facilities will total over 2.3 million sf when built out.
The primary attraction for the data centers to Quincy is the abundant renewable power (around
2,000 MW worth) from Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams operated by the Grant County PUD.
Commercial power costs are around $0.025 per KW/h. Sabey lists their cost per KW/h at $0.225
and it is reported that Microsoft is getting their power for $0.019 per KW/h. (In contrast, Rocky
Mountain Power charges $0.0626 per KW/h.)
32
x", Co
Quincy is also ideal for free cooling, in which companies use cool air from outside the building to
cool the servers, rather than air conditioners.
Connectivity to Quincy, WA is provided by wholesale dark fiber providers NoaNet and Grant
County PUD. Zayo, Level3, Verizon and Frontier have purchased capacity from the wholesale
providers in order to offer their services to the data center facilities. Multiple fiber lines, which
allow data centers to switch lines if one goes down, are uncommon for cities of a similar size to
Quincy.
Q 0 10'sy,
WA
Level(3
A GEORGE
Microsoft Expansion
OF MUENCL. WON
COUP FIBM BAKMONE WnMA
Microsoft has further expanded its massive data center in Quincy. According to a May 24, 2022
article in Data Center Dynamics, the company filed permits to build a 20,500 square foot recycling
center, a project named MWH90 CC. The center will recycle used computers, servers, and other
parts. The company purchased 200 acres from the Port of Quincy for $11 million for a major 2015
expansion project. That added to the 75 acres Microsoft already owned. Microsoft's existing
Quincy data center is the largest, with an 800,000 sf facility to provide the infrastructure for their
cloud services. Split into two phases, phase one was a 500,000 sf facility, and phase two was a
300,000 sf modular design that allowed Microsoft to substantially lower cost per megawatt to
33
build and run its datacenters while significantly reducing time to market. This facility is powered
100% by renewable hydroelectric power.
Microsoft Data Center
Sabey Data Center Expansion
In February 2022, Sabey Data Centers broke ground on a 70 megawatt expansion of its SDC
campus in Quincy.
According to a February
111 2022 article in Data
Center Dynamics,, the
company said it secured
a "major service
provider" anchor tenant.
The initial phase of
construction should take
place in the second half
of2022.
34
expansion.
Brian Huck, Yahoo's Quincy data center manager,, said the company replaces its servers every
three to four years. While expensive, that plan ensures the servers operate more reliably, he
said. "The new servers use less power, they have bigger drives and you're maximizing your
energy," Huck said.
35
Norco, Inc. built a gas -separation plant in Ephrata. Norco is a
supplier of gas including medical -grade oxygen and industrial
t
grade oxygen, liquid CO2 and bulk nitrogen for food and
beverage retailers.
or, ving You Oetter
Gorge Amphitheatre {Cindy Carter)
The Gorge Amphitheatre is a 25,000 -seat outdoor amphitheater above the Columbia River
Gorge, located six miles outside
the town of George.
The Gorge has hosted a huge
number of big live acts, including
Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty
& the Heartbreakers, Neil Young,
The Police, Rush, the Dave
Matthews Band (who have
performed at the Gorge nearly
every year since the mid-90s),
and many more.
tee`
The venue was opened by winemakers Vince and Carol Bryan in 1985 as a vineyard. In 1990,
construction began on what would become the main stage, and the venue was re -christened
The Gorge Amphitheatre.
The Gorge typically hosts concerts starting in late spring, and ending in late fall. The Gorge was
ranked No. 39 in gross ticket sales in Pollstar's Top 100 amphitheater venues for 2019, with ticket
sales of $7.7 million. To accommodate weekend concertgoers, the Gorge offers multi -tiered
camping facilities ranging from "glamping" (glamorous camping) to standard campsites. There
are 7,800 permitted campsites.
W
Viticulture: An increasing number of growers are finding that the region's moderate
temperatures, low rainfall and sandy soils are ideal for wine grapes.
Columbia Valley AVA Key Facts:
• Northerly latitude provides two hours more sunlight each day during the growing
season compared to California vineyard areas, helping develop greater fruit intensity.
• Cool evenings provide more extreme day/night temperature spread, providing crisp
acids and ideal balance.
• Vines are planted on their own root stock. Grafting is unnecessary as in other wine
regions of the world.
The Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills has its own unique features that serve to produce
excellent wines. The slope where the grapes are planted provides great exposure as well as
drainage. The very fine sand almost silty
soil produces incredibly rich wines with
powerfully focused aromatics as well as
great texture. The site's fractured rock
and extreme southern exposure are ideal
for reds, especially Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot and Syrah. White grapes are
planted on a mixture of fractured rock
and areas of fine sandy loam.
Planted in 2000 on a steep, south -facing slope with one of the most diverse clone selections in
Washington State, Stillwater Creek Vineyard quickly has earned a reputation as one of the
Columbia Valley's top vineyards. Stoneridge Vineyard is located between Othello and Royal City
on Highway 26.
37
r
x^,v.k*9'Lta.
Royal's premier local winery, Gard Vintners, has garnered a high score from Wine Spectator, the
leading publication for wine aficionados.
Wine Spectator gave Gard's 2010 Riesling Ice Wine an
exceptional 95 -point score, its 2011 Grand Kalsse Reserve
Syrah a notable 93 point score, its 2012 Vaucluse and 2012 Don
Isidro and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon a commendable 92 -point
score.
Competition.
The winery has tasting rooms in Walla
Walla, Woodinville, and Ellensburg, and
produces over 6,000 cases of wine
annually for its wine club members, three
tasting rooms, and select distribution.
M
Wahluke Slope AVA
The Wahluke
Slope AVA is
a 5,200 -acre
American
Viticultural
Area located
within Grant
County that was established in 2006. It is part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. The area is
primarily known for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Shown at right is a rendering of the
Wahluke Slope AVA by Millbrandt
Vineyards, family farmers who operate
12 of the 20 vineyards in the AVA and
were the first to plant grapevines here.
The area features nearly 15% of the grape
acreage in the State and at least 3 wine
production facilities.
Quincy's Ancient Lakes AVA
Since 2012, wine hailing from the Quincy area has had a special distinction after the Ancient Lakes
of Columbia Valley Region was officially recognized as Washington's 13th American Viticultural
Area.
The new AVA covers more than 162,000 acres in Grant, Douglas and Kittitas counties. According
to the Federal Register, 1,399 acres within the new AVA are dedicated to six commercially -
producing vineyards.
39
7. Conclusion {Danny Stone}
The County continues to demonstrate good financial and debt management practices.
Among its credit strengths are the following:
1. Growing economy;
2. Diverse tax base, with significant new construction;
3. Strong available current expense fund reserve position of 32% and Road Fund
reserve fund position of 58%;
4. Stable revenue sources, with sales taxes constituting 51% of 2020 tax revenues,
property taxes 39%, and other taxes 10%;
5. Experienced management with a history of conservative financial practices;
6. New revenue source from the voter -approved Law and Justice Sales Tax, which is
projected to cover debt service and operations of the project;
7. Formal Reserve Policy of 20% of Current Expense Fund Expenditures; and
8. Low amount of debt representing only 0.65% of AV.
The County appreciates your consideration.
40
Open Record Public Hearing
Golf Carts
July 26, 2022
3:30 p.m.
In Attendance:
Danny E. Stone, Chair
Rob Jones, Vice -Chair
Cindy Carter, Member
Barbara J. Vasquez, Clerk of the Board
Sam Castro
Sam Dart
Public: See sign in sheet
3:32 p.m. The Commissioners held an Open Record Public Hearing to consider an Ordinance amending
Ch. 11.34 of the Grant County Code titled "Operation of Golf Carts"; specifically to add Moore Road and
Blue Lake Roads and will include the County maintained roads contained within the Moores Blue Lake
Tracts Long Plat, Blue Lake Summer Homes, Brittains Blue Lake and all of Moore Road.
Sam Dart, Assistant Public Works Director gave a brief synopsis of the request. Below are the following
roads to be added:
ROADNAME
31.3 NE
A ST *BLUE LAKE*
A ST *BLUE LAKE*
A.3 NE
A.3 NE
B ST *BLUE LAKE*
BUCKLEY SQUARE
BUCKLEY SQUARE
BUCKLEY SQUARE
LAKE SHORE DR NE
LAKE SHORE DR NE
LAKEVI EW RD
LAKEVI EW RD
MOORE RD
MOORE RD
MOORE RD
MOORE RD
MUNDY LANE
PALISADES RD
DAi icenrc Qn
ROADLOG
BMP
EMP
LENGTH
50711
0
0.15
0.15
50740
0
0.03
0.03
50740
0.03
0.07
0.04
50711
0.15
0.17
0.02
50711
0.17
0.29
0.12
50720
0
0.1
0.1
50760
0
0.04
0.04
50760
0.04
0.09
0.05
50760
0.09
0.15
0.06
50710
2.04
2.22
0.18
50710
2.22
2.34
0.12
50730
0
0.17
0.17
50730
0.17
0.39
0.22
50710
0
0.75
0.75
50710
0.75
1.67
0.92
50710
1.67
1.84
0.17
50710
1.84
2.04
0.2
50770
0
0.08
0.08
50770
0.08
0.2
0.12
50770
0.2
0.25
0.05
A motion was made by Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to close the public
comment portion of the hearing. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by
Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Carter to approve the ordinance as presented. The
motion passed unanimously.
Open Record Public Hearing
Disband/Dissolve Intercounty Weed District 51
July 26, 2022
3:15 p.m.
In Attendance:
Danny E. Stone, Chair
Rob Jones, Vice -Chair
Cindy Carter, Member
Barbara J. Vasquez, Clerk of the Board
Public: See sign in sheet
3:15 p.m. The Commissioners held an Open Record Public Hearing to consider dissolving the special
purpose district known as Intercounty Weed District 51 (pursuant to RCW 36.96).
Michele Jaderlund, County Auditor stated she submitted a letter to the Commissioners on January 7,
2022 notifying the commissioners that the Weed District has been in -active for over 5 years, pursuant to
RCW 36.96.
Commissioner Carter asked about the building/rent. Allen Evenson discussed rent due and that he had
received reimbursement for his mailings.
Discussion ensued about any property that may be left in the building that was being rented. The
Noxious Weed Control Board is anticipated to absorb the district duties.
A motion was made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Commissioner Jones, to close the public
comment portion of the hearing. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by
Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Carter to adopt the ordinance as presented. The
motion passed unanimously.