Island County should see a revenue increase of approximately 6 percent in its general fund next year.

Total projected revenue for 2007 is more than $23 million for the general fund, compared to approximately $22 million this year. The total projected increase is about $1.3 million.

The bulk of the jump can be attributed to interest on investments made through the office of Island County Treasurer Linda Riffe.

When Riffe took office in 2002, the interest rates were historically low.

Interest rates gradually started to climb in January and returns improved dramatically. Riffe said an estimate of $1.5 million in investment income for next year could be a conservative estimate.

“The excess money is used to help with county expenses, such as roads and construction works, things the county is responsible for providing citizens,” Riffe said.

Local sales tax projections for 2007 increased a little more than 1 percent, jumping from $4.6 million to about 4.7 million. Budget director Elaine Marlow said the change can be attributed not only to more goods being purchased in the county, but to the construction of homes in unincorporated areas.

“I’ve been conservative on sales tax at this point,” she added.

County revenue generated by real and personal property taxes is expected to increase by almost 4 percent in 2007, or by $234,000. The percentage could increase or decrease in the various taxing districts, depending on their levy structure.

Assessor Tom Baenen said the county’s total assessed value for real and personal property is projected at over $12 billion. New construction alone will be more than $328 million.

However, the number of county building permits issued is down this year. Through October, 1,221 permits have been sold, 328 of which are for single family residences and 112 for additions and remodels. Last year 1,291 permits had been sold through October, including 376 for single family residences and 134 for additions and remodels.

Supplemental budget requests have also been passed down, although county commissioners are in the process of poring over each department proposal. The total general fund requests are a little over $1 million, approximately three-quarters of the solicited additional funding in the form of ongoing expenditures, rather than one-time items.

The most substantial requests came from the Auditor and Clerk’s offices, Human Resources, Maintenance, and Senior Services.

The commissioners have tentatively agreed to increase several positions from part-time to full-time. A request for an extra Superior Court judge would necessitate hiring an additional court reporter.

The commissioners usually finalize the budget for the following year in December after public hearings are held.