County works on 2025 prelimary budget

COLFAX — Whitman County is currently crunching numbers, compiling a rough draft of the 2025 budget.

Whitman County Chief Financial Officer Jessica Jensema said the budget is usually adopted in December and adopts the tax roll first for 2025.

The rough draft budget comes to a total of $38,152,243 in revenue and has a projected budget deficit or deficiency of excess expenses over revenue at $3,579,257.

Jensema predicts the county will start 2025 with about $11 million in cash.

“It’s really not that terrible of a picture,” she said, adding that this will be the first year the county has experienced having a deficit.

Jensema noted this is due to the county being smart with money for the last several years.

County commissioners are currently discussing exemptions of departments, including the Auditor’s Office and the Fair which will show a change in some numbers.

“It is due to the state passing a law regarding the exempt salary allowed based on the minimum wage,” Jensema said, noting the law states that your salary has to be so much more than minimum wage and exempt means there is no overtime.

As of January 1, 2025, employers with over 51 or more employees must pay overtime exempt workers a salary of at least 2.25 times the minimum wage. (RCW Chapter 49.46.130)

Jensema said there are other factors not included in the budget yet, including three percent cost of living improved, other increases including the monthly fee for Martin Hall for juveniles.

“There are still a couple proposed positions,” she said.

The Preliminary budget predicts the following numbers for all funds:

The rough draft budget shows a General Government current expense revenue and total expense of $38,152,243. The General Government sees a personnel expense of $15,747,080, and an operating expense of $22,405,163.

Building and Development revenue and total expenses come to $289,250, with personnel expenses at $146,450 and an operating expense of $142,800; County-Wide Planning has an estimated revenue and total expense of $779,827, personnel expense at $262,900 and operating coming to $516,927 and

Developmental Services comes to an expected revenue and total expenses cost of $1,060,646, personnel expense of $164,044 and operating of $896,602.

The Veterans Relief revenue and total expenses come to an expected $210,500, personnel at a predicted at $38,444 and operating of $172,056 and the homeless housing plan has an expected revenue, total expense and operating expense of $880,000, with no personnel expense.

The County Road Public Works has a predicted revenue and total expense of $26,678,922, with personnel coming to $6,384,100 and operating at $20,494,822; Public Facilities Improvement revenue, total expense and operating is predicted to be $2,400,000, with no personnel expense; Hotel and Motel Tax revenue, total and operating expense is predicted to come to $85,000; Domestic Violence services revenue is predicted to come to an operating and total expense of $700, with no personnel expense; Boating Safety revenue and total expense comes to a predicted $147,000, at a personnel expense of $67,000 and operating expense of $80,000.

Inmate Welfare revenue and total and operating expense of $60,000, with no personnel expense. The Historical preservation and program comes to an operating and total expense of $89,600, with no personnel expense.

The Sheriff K-9 Unit revenue and total expense comes to a predicted $13,500, personnel expense of $1,000 and operating expense of $12,500.

Paths and Trails revenue is predicted at a revenue and total expense of $273,000, personnel expense $58,290 and operating expense of $214,710.

The Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) Technology revenue, total and operating expense comes to a predicted $295,717, with no personnel expense.

REET is a tax levied by the state on the sale of real estate property, cities, towns and counties can also impose a local REET tax.

Donations and planned giving revenue, total and operating expenses come to a predicted $385,300.

Treasurer M&O revenue and total expenses come to $240,000, personnel expense $5,150 and operating expense at $234,850.

Quad City Drug Task Force is predicted at a revenue and total expense of $473,400, personnel $85,700 and operating expense of $387,700; Crime Victims and Witness revenue and total expense is predicted at $260,452, personnel expense $174,725 and operating expense of $85,727; Juvenile Special revenue funds operating and total expense of $3,014, no personnel expense; Inter-Local Drug Fund revenue total and operating expense of $18,500, no personnel expense.

Auditor’s document preservation revenue, total and operating expense of $316,000, no personnel expense; Commissioners special revenue, total and operating expense at $285,000, no personnel expense; Elections reserve revenue and total expense of $196,750, personnel expense $40,649, operating expense $156,101; Prosecutor STOP Grant revenue and total expense of $26,455, personnel expense $16,277, operating expense $10,178; no district court funds predicted.

Federal equitable sharing revenue and total expense of $269,500, personnel expense $5,000, operating expense $264,500; Washington Housing SHB 2060 revenue, total and operating expense of $155,000, no personnel expense; trial court improvement revenue and total expense of $144,696, personnel expense $5,535, Operating expense of $139,161.

Emergency Communication System revenue and total expense of $3,750,000, personnel expense $511,390, operating $3,238,610; Affordable and Supporting Housing revenue, total and operating expense of $490,000, no personnel expense.

ARPA revenue is predicted at a revenue and total of $1,100,000, personnel expense $38,830, operating expense $1,061,170; Law Library revenue and total expense $20,000; Debt Service-External revenue and total at $417,768; No Debt service-Internal expenses.

Capital Projects revenue and total at $2,039,680, operating expense $1,484,749, no personnel expense; Capital Projects outside resources revenue, total and operating at $69,500, no personnel expense; Capital Projects-inside resources no expenses.

Solid Waste Public Works revenue and total at $7,400,500, personnel expense $1,359,750, operating expense $6,040,750; Solid Waste Reserve revenue and total at $2,670,000, personnel expense $22,500, operating expense $2,647,500; Equipment Rental and Revolving revenue and total at $7,525,200, personnel expense $1,241,300, operating expense $6,283,900; Unemployment Insurance-Revolve revenue and total at $130,000, personnel expense $15,000, operating expense $115,000.

The Preliminary rough draft 2025 budget for the county predicts a revenue and total expense of $100,002,620, a total personnel expense of $26,391,114 and a total operating expense of $73,036,575.