Whitman County Commissioners will decide tomorrow whether to adopt a proposed $62.1 million 2019 budget Monday that would use cash reserves for a geographic information system, software updates and building repairs. It also includes some cost of living raises and increased medical contributions.
The proposed budget, as released Thursday, runs $1.9 million short of the previous year’s adopted budget with most of those decreases seemingly coming from county road operating expenses and public facility improvement costs.
The 2019 General Fund includes more than $822,000 in increased spending, largely for an additional $231,000 in Sheriff’s Office personnel expenses and $195,000 in general government operating expenses.
Commissioners will consider the budget at 10 a.m. Monday in the board’s chambers at the Whitman County Courthouse. The board will also vote on a third amendment to the 2018 budget and review several contracts. Read the entire agenda here.
You can also compare the proposed 2019 budget to the previously adopted 2018 budget with this spread sheet, which breaks out the differences in spending year to year. (Updated on Dec. 18) Let me know if you have specific questions to pose to commissioners about the budget.
Commissioners previously outlined $950,000 in proposed one-time spending on the GIS system, security camera replacements, a time clock software system and other capital projects. See a break down of projects and costs here.
County elected officials will also receive raises going into the next year following recommendations from the local Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. Those raises range from 3 to 10 percent.
The proposed budget also includes a 3.5 percent raise for non-represented county employees and an additional $75,000 in the county’s contributions to medical plans.
Administrative director Gary Petrovich noted recently requested raises for Public Works employees were not included in the current budget. He said they could be added through an amendment next year.