Whitman County Commissioners unanimously adopted a $62.3 million budget for 2019 on Monday that raises pay for county workers, upgrades technology and funds a long-awaited digital mapping system.
Explore our spread sheet comparing the adopted 2019 budget to the adopted/amended 2018 budget with a breakout of the increases and decreases in spending. Here’s the adopted totals for 2019 and a projection of 2019 county revenue and expenditures.
The largest increases in proposed spending over the previous 2018 budget go to general government expenses, the commissioners special revenue fund and Information Technology operations.
County Administrative Director Gary Petrovich said much of the one-time spending on the Geographic Information System, new software and other capital projects goes through the general government fund.
“It has to flow through as an expenditure item and that’s the fund it’s flowing through,” he said, noting much of that money will come from cash reserves.
The IT budget also includes new one-time spending of nearly $65,000 on an employee time clock system, $32,000 for wireless network upgrades and more than $115,000 for security cameras.
Petrovich also explained the commissioners special revenue fund serves as a reserve fund to cover unforeseen operational costs throughout the year. He said it carries over money year to year and helps prevent department heads from over-budgeting by building in some buffer at the commission level.
“(It’s) a built-in contingency for operating funds,” he said. “Departments have been very good at not padding their budgets and just presenting what their budgets should be.”
Petrovich noted many of the higher budget totals also reflect union contract increases, a 3.5 percent cost of living raise for non-represented employees and additional county contributions to medical benefits.
“Medical, COLA and the union contract escalators were the fundamental reasons for that increase,” he said, adding, “Elected officials (also) got substantial increases.”
Elected official salaries are set by a local commission.
The newly adopted budget comes in overall at about $3.3 million less than the final 2018 budget, which included three amendments for additional spending. That budget included increased spending on emergency communications as well as a new roof and HVAC system for the Public Services Building.
The Sheriff’s Office looks to receive an increase of more than $157,000 over last year, which Petrovich attributed to union contracts and additional overtime. Juvenile Services will receive less funding to reflect a smaller staff.
A recently requested pay increase for Public Works employees does not appear in the 2019 budget, Petrovich said. It could be added sometime next year through a budget amendment.
Petrovich noted a projected $600,000 in carryover revenue from 2018 to 2019 represented a conservative estimate and should be closer to $700,000. The 2019 budget includes using an additional $300,000 to $400,000 from cash reserves to cover the balance of the one-time projects slated for the coming year.
Commissioner Dean Kinzer thanked Petrovich for his work on the budget.
“Are there any comments, questions or discussion, gentlemen?” Kinzer asked his fellow commissioners.
“I think we’ve had plenty of discussion,” Commissioner Art Swannack replied before voting to approve.
No member of the public made any comment or asked any questions during the hearing on Monday.
In other business:
Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution revising 2019 current Expense/Road Tax levies and a resolution certifying county district tax levies for 2019. They also approved a third amendment to the 2018 budget.
Commissioners unanimously appointed and re-appointed several members to the Blue Ribbon Advisory Task Committee, the Developmental Services Advisory Board, the Fair Board and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
Commissioners also released a schedule of county board meetings for the coming year as well as office holiday closures.
Kinzer also wore a Christmas lights tie that got some attention.