County commissioners approve 2013 budget

With little fanfare, Whitman County commissioners unanimously approved the 2013 balanced budget Monday morning.

Although there was a $200,000 deficit in the budget, commissioners approved taking it out of cash reserves to make up for the shortfall. Just prior to the budget vote, commissioners approved a one percent hike in property taxes.

After two public hearings, the proposed $59.58 million budget was expected to have a deficit of $200,000. The deficit was in the $13.29 million current expense budget, the county’s main operating budget.

“It was a very smooth process, because of the cooperati...