County’s 2012 budget draft $1.5 million short

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 the coming months to bring the spending total closer to the revenue projection.

“Intellectuals solve problems. Geniuses prevent them,” he told commissioners. “We need to start working now to prevent any problems in next year’s budget.”

“If you’re looking for geniuses, we’re in trouble,” said Commissioner Michael Largent, shortly before rifling for loose change through the cushions of his board room chair.

Individual departments submitted their spending plans in August. Combined, their initial expenditure requests of $13,658,612 represent a seven percent increase over the $12,767,805 they plan to spend this year.

Next year’s revenue total of $12,109,117 is three percent lower than this year’s $12,430,650 in revenue.

The county expects to balance this year’s budget by pumping in $317,236 from the county’s cash reserves.

Commissioners plan to look over the completed book of budget proposals over the next week and will meet next Monday to discuss their preferred plans to eliminate the $1.5 million deficit.