“Improving Whidbey Island’s economy will be the focus today of what top area officials say is an improving dialogue between the island’s handful of governments.The Island County Council of Governments – made up of the county’s commissioners, a representative from the Port of Coupeville and the mayors of Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley – meets in Coupeville this morning to discuss the region’s lagging economy and how to better develop it. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. at 501 NE Haller St., Meeting Room 5, near the county’s main administration complex.Since last summer, the group has generally met monthly, immediately after meetings of the county’s Regional Transportation Planning Organization. The group has discussed a wide range of topics. Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard, who helped found the group about a year ago, describes the Council of Governments as a loose-knit association that gives officials the opportunity to brainstorm about the issues that effect Whidbey residents.Today’s meeting follows on the heels of a recent announcement by Island County Commission Chairman Bill Thorn that the county – suffering dramatic revenue reductions – may consider either raising taxes or cutting services if the state reduces the amount of funding it gives the county in the 2001-2003 biennium budget, currently still being considered in the state House of Representatives.Thorn said the effects of Initiative 695 – which cut the state Motor Vehicle Excise Tax to $30 and reduced the ability of government to raise taxes – reduced county funding by 700,000 in 2000, though the cost of state-mandated costs remained unchanged. He further said the county could lose an additional $1.2 million in criminal justice and public health funding if the state House passes a proposal to completely eliminate funds earmarked to help counties fill in revenue gaps left by I-695.The initiative was found unconstitutional by a state supreme court judge, but has had a lasting impact on the availability of public funds.Thorn said Whidbey’s financial woes have been compounded by flat sales growth countywide and lower-than-expected interest returns on county investments.Both Thorn and Conard said expanding local businesses and enticing new businesses into the region would be high on the council’s list of discussion items.There’s a big concern about Island County’s low sales tax (collections), Conard said. The focus will be on trying to make sure there’s a strong economy.Simply, said Thorn, we need new jobs on the island … I see nothing but good could come out of it.Langley Mayor Lloyd Furman concurred that expansion of the region’s economy is sorely needed. On the other hand, he said, some – especially in Whidbey’s rural areas – have remained strongly opposed to virtually any new business. Furman said a vocal public campaign a couple of years ago kept a McDonald’s restaurant from opening in South Whidbey, despite the fact the business would have injected the area with badly-needed money and a jobs.To me, it’s inconceivable to be against a McDonald’s coming in, he said. At the same time, Furman acknowledged the efforts of those who fight local growth remind him that those looking to grow the area’s economy must always be mindful of Whidbey’s quality of life.As an example, Thorn said bringing a new food processing operation into Oak Harbor might not prove prudent when considering the city’s natural resources and infrastructure. But relocating a high-tech firm in the city would make more sense.There must be an understanding of the needs of the community, Conard said. Island life requires a different way of doing things.Conard added that the Council of Governments gives local leaders a greater understanding of the entire island community. It certainly has increased our awareness of what happening, what approaches are proving useful … we’re building a nice collegial relationship network.That’s not to say that regional officials didn’t cooperate before, Conard said, but there were no formalized channels established for them to share ideas.Historically, the individual governments here just went along, doing their own things, said Thorn. Furman said there was an effort several years ago to convene a group similar to the current Council of Governments. However, he recalled, the officials involved back then seemed too involved with other business and the group quickly disbanded.Thorn suggested much of the current group’s success is a result of Conard’s leadership. As well, he said, the ongoing development of the county’s comprehensive plan and state-mandated growth management guidelines has given officials more opportunities to learn from each other and work together.Eventually, Conard said, the Council of Governments will likely become a formal agency, able to receive and delegate funds and initiate regional programs.In the meantime, the participants will continue to meet regularly, simply discussing the issues of the month.This is still a fledgeling … the wheels of government turn very slowly, and the Council of Government has just started rolling, Thorn said.Nonetheless, these are you peers in government, said Conard. Communication never hurts. “