County’s 2012 budget draft $1.5 million short

Gazette Reporters

The first compilation of Whitman County’s budget for next year now stands $1.5 million short of balancing.

Administrative Director Gary Petrovich Tuesday gave commissioners three-inch thick binders of the county’s 2012 spending plan.

Leaders in the county’s current expense operating fund departments predict revenues of $12,109,117, which is $1,549,495 shy of the $13,658,612 they expect to spend next year.

Overall, the county’s 2012 budget is expected to total $44,628,157.

Petrovich cautioned, though, that these are the opening figures. He said county leaders will work over th...