First county budget draft above $15.9 million

County Administrative Director Gary Petrovich presented a preliminary general fund expenditure budget to county commissioners Monday to consider for 2018.

The deficit was $102,714 on a total of $15,960,085.

“I have to commend the departments for being financially diligent and responsible,” said Petrovich.

The projected deficit number of $102,714 represents a significant drop from previous years.

Ten years ago, the initial budget deficit would often be in excess of a million dollars.

“Then you’d have to argue it down,” said Michael Largent, county commissioner since 2007. “We have a much better...