Commissioners set meet for 2017 budget plan gap

The county's budget process for 2017 is advancing and, as of right now, the proposal shows a $142,937 deficit.

County Administrator Gary Petrovich noted that while this number may seem large, it is a small portion of the actual general fund budget, which is projected at approximately $15.4 million.

“That is less than one percent,” said Petrovich. “It is .92 percent.”

The total overall county budget is estimated at approximately $61.5 million. Twenty-three departments make up the general fund, while another 15 are in the remainder of the budget.

County commissioners have set a workshop meeting with some department heads with the aim of discussing the deficit. The meeting is slated for next Thursday, Oct. 13, at 9 a.m. with Whitman County Auditor Eunice Coker, Treasurer Mark Clinton and Assessor Joe Reynolds.

“Those three departments are specifically involved with an initiative for looking at different types of systems and processes,” said Petrovich. “It would be helpful to have them all in the same room.”

The meeting will focus on input and ideas for reducing the deficit.

Petrovich cited increases in areas such as health care insurance premiums, liability insurance, labor and industry taxes, internal equity adjustments and HIPPA compliance as factors contributing to the current projected deficit. These combined add an additional estimated $120,000 to the 2017 budget.

However, there are some areas that have been identified as potential savings. Petrovich said Bob Reynolds, facilities manager, estimates approximately $100,000 of his budget can be reallocated, while Troy Henderson in the health department estimates $30,000 of his can be put back in the general fund.

“Facilities is given money from the general fund for maintenance and operations, and because of the extent of the McKinstry project, there's not a lot going on right now,” explained Petrovich. “In the health department, there's a vacant position, so that's a potential savings right now. These are things that are likely to come to pass.”

Petrovich said the meeting will provide a time for “figuring out internal efficiencies.” He added that the county wants to be able to keep an operating reserve in its budget.

“An operating reserve is the concept I came up with trying to not have the departments pad their budgets,” he said. “It helps with unforeseen expenses and circumstances.”

Petrovich said the ideal situation would to be able to have two months worth of operating costs with the operating reserve budget.

“We're only about halfway there,” he said.

Petrovich said the current projected deficit will not keep the county from passing a budget.

“In some cases, we may not know until even after we pass the budget how much expenditure there will be. A budget is just an estimate and a forecast,” he said. “Being less than one percent, I don't think we'll stumble.”

For the 2016 budget, Petrovich noted the county is currently looking at budget amendment #2, for which a hearing is slated Monday, Oct. 16, and talk has already begun on a budget amendment #3 to tie up loose ends in this year's budget. A hearing on that amendment would be in December, he said. The county's first budget amendment for the year – passed in August – required dipping into the operating reserve fund.

The budget deficit meeting is open to the public and will be held in the commissioner's chambers of the Whitman County Courthouse. It is slated for 9-11 a.m.

On Monday night, Oct. 3, the commissioners held a public meeting in the courthouse to hear from the community about the budget. No one from the public attended.

“I was disappointed that we didn't have more people showing up at the public meeting,” said Petrovich, noting this may be cause to reevaluate the time of the public meetings to see if more people would attend.

The next budget hearing, which is open to the public, is slated for Monday, Oct. 17, at 10:30 a.m.