Virus effect at Public Works?

Will the statewide restrictions affect Whitman County Public Works projects at all?

“I think gas tax receipts are going to drop dramatically,” said Storey, referring to the average monthly $380,000 check from Olympia, which represents shared proceeds of gas taxes per gallon statewide. “That’s what we operate on. With restaurants and bars closing, people not having jobs, this drop in people driving and buying things will hit in about two months.”

Gas tax receipts represent about half of Whitman County’s road department budget.

Two weeks’ payroll for the department amounts to $165,000 for its 70 employees, including the solid waste department.

Has something like this happened before?

Storey noted that high gas/diesel prices in mid-2000s and then the recession hitting in 2008-09 caused a dip in driving which led to about 20 percent less in gas receipts for county road department.

“I’m trying to be optimistic,” he said.