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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Officials Boost Staff For Selves Commissioners Budget For Receptionist, Remodeling After Slashing Other Departments

Just days after eliminating 11 jobs, the latest cuts in a massive downsizing, Spokane County commissioners voted Tuesday to spend $37,000 on hiring a receptionist and remodeling their office.

An irritated Linda Wolverton, county treasurer, marched in and wanted to know why. Especially since she had just been denied permission to fill three vacant clerk jobs.

“I’m a little upset that I have to come down here and rejustify why I need these positions,” she told commissioners.

Commissioner Steve Hasson responded that the county payroll had ballooned, that the two bywords under his watch would be efficiency and responsibility.

“Except in your office,” Wolverton quipped.

Hasson continued speaking.

About 60 percent of the county’s $177 million budget goes to salaries and benefits, he said. Since 1987, a new employee has been hired every five days.

“So the purpose is to slash, not effective management,” Wolverton countered.

County Commission Chairman Phil Harris stepped in and stopped the verbal boxing match. “Linda, you’re out of order,” he said.

Hasson and Harris defend the new receptionist position.

The estimated $18,000-a-year job is needed to improve customer service, they said, because their secretaries often are on the telephone or typing and can’t greet citizens.

The estimated $19,000 remodeling job is to put a wall up in the office and separate the new receptionist from the secretaries. That way, Hasson said, he can dictate letters to his constituents without interruptions.

Added Harris: “I don’t know why everyone is go grieved that the county commissioners want a receptionist to serve the public.”

Clashes over county staffing levels could become commonplace because of a hiring policy recently implemented by the three-member county commission.

Faced with reduced property valuations and a possible initiative that would roll back property taxes next year, commissioners are swinging mighty budget axes.

No one will be hired - even in vacant positions - without the approval of Chief Administrative Officer Jim Lindow and the commission.

Theoretically, even elected officials could lose the staffs needed to serve the voters to whom they answer. Although elected officials have duties outlined by state statute, county commissioners have the final say over their budgets.

“They’re micro-managing my office,” Wolverton said after the commission debate. “This is very worrisome.”

Other elected officials share her concern.

County Clerk Tom Fallquist, who administers the courts system, wants to promote a worker to deputy criminal court clerk. The salary would not even come from the county, he said, but would be covered by state criminal justice funds.

Commissioners approved his request but said they would not refill the deputy’s current job.

“I can’t lose any more,” Fallquist said.

Ten years ago, there were 35 county-funded employees in Fallquist’s office. Now there are 31, even though the Legislature has expanded his office’s duties.

If Fallquist’s staff isn’t able to serve taxpayers, who include domestic violence victims, taxpayers could be held liable in court, he said.

He plans to go to commissioners next week and make his own case.

“This process is real frustrating,” Fallquist said, “but I’m confident that … I will be able to convince them that further downsizing of the clerk’s office is absolutely out of the question.”

County Auditor Bill Donahue said the county’s hiring freeze is “a slap in the face.”

Donahue has lost seven employees since another purge in 1991. He notes that the commissioners office, with the new receptionist, has jumped from eight employees in 1985 to 12.

, DataTimes