Petrovich presents January report

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Mar 01, 20180

Whitman County Administrative Director Gary Petrovich presented a monthly budget review for January to County Commissioners Feb. 20.

He noted that $2,317,000 was spent by the county in January – from the general fund/current expense account, including salaries, wages and benefits.

“Right on target,” Petrovich said.

Revenue brought in for the month was $1,006,366, including $317,725 in sales tax and property tax. Much of county property tax is collected in April and October after which the county expects a $9,132,000 total for the year in both property and sales tax.

“So that’s not indicative,” Petrovich said of the January number.

Commissioner Michael Largent asked if he saw any concern.

“My wife only packed me one sandwich for lunch and no snacks so I might be a little hungry,” Petrovich said. “Other than that, no.”

The report was the first of what will be a series of monthly budget reviews, as opposed to the previous practice of doing them quarterly.

“Sometimes too much time passes until the departments look at how money is being spent,” said Petrovich. “It helps in catching errors, too.”

He will present his February report to commissioners March 19 at 10:30 a.m..

“It’s just a one-month snapshot,” he said. “More information is always better.”