County board to hold budget workshops

Whitman County Administrative Director Gary Petrovich suggested to the board of county commissioners that they hold a series of workshops about budget planning.

Petrovich May 20 suggested that the board look at developing budget goals.

“I suggest holding a series of workshops to discuss goals for the budget,” he told the board.

“Past boards have tended to be reactionary, not proactive,” commented board chair Michael Largent.

“We don’t print our own money,” he said. “We have budget constraints. I would like to stop thinking of the budget as a year at a time process. This is very important to me.”

“We’ve struggled in developing historical data in which to look into the future,” Largent said. “We need to have a budget that has elements of control.”

Petrovich said a good budget process is characterized by several essential features such as a long-term perspective and focusing budget decisions on results and outcomes.

He told commissioners that government should have broad goals that provide overall direction.

Petrovich cited recommended budget practices by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting.

It states that a good budget process incorporate a long-term perspective; establishes links to broad organizational goals; focuses budget decisions on results and outcomes; involves and promotes effective communication with people involved with the budget, and provides incentives to government management and employees.

The advisory council also suggests establishing broad goals to guide government decision making; develop approaches to achieve goals; develop a budget consistent with approaches to achieve goals, and evaluate performance and make adjustments.

Petrovich also said the process will take time, perhaps up to a year. After discussing the suggestions, the commissioners decided to discuss it further to begin meetings.