Loan moratorium remains in place

In January the Board of County Commissioners placed a moratorium on loans to junior taxing districts for the purpose of protecting the county's financial position while the county treasurer is working on establishing policies and procedures in relation to intergovernmental loans.

Initially anticipating that he could have the policies and procedures ready for the commissioners by February, County Treasurer Mark Clinton this week reported it is still a work in progress.

“We're not very far with it,” he said. “I did do some research with other counties.”

Clinton's research involves reaching out to other counties to look into their policies and procedures in order to help Whitman County establish guidelines. In January, he said the county wants to have something in writing for when a junior taxing district does approach the county to ask for a loan. Clinton is looking into matters such as length of loans, terms and interests.

Clinton noted unexpected illnesses and medical issues in his office are part of the reason why the research is not finished yet. He does expect to have something soon, though.

“Sometime this spring I will be presenting a thing to the county commissioners,” he said. “But I haven't gotten that drafted up yet. It will be this spring, for sure.”