Commissioners to decide next week on 2012

Whitman County commissioners will vote on the wind-aided budget for 2012 next Monday.

A second public hearing on the $57 million spending plan garnered neither support nor opposition Monday morning.

The budget is balanced by anticipated revenues from the Palouse Wind wind farm under construction on Naff Ridge between Oakesdale and Rosalia.

“What really made the difference of our whole budget was windmills,” said Commissioner Greg Partch.

Construction sales taxes from the wind farm chopped $500,000 off the initial $1.5 million deficit. Departmental cuts sliced that even further.

Finalizing the...