Latah County passes budget of $19 million

The Latah County Commissioners approved a $19 million budget Wednesday for the upcoming fiscal year that includes another 4 percent annual or hourly pay increase for all county employees and elected officials, the same as last fiscal year’s increase.

The budget, which takes effect Oct. 1 and goes through Sept. 31, 2018, was increased by nearly $500,000 over the 2017 fiscal year budget.

County Commissioner Dave McGraw, who was not able to physically attend the meeting but joined the conversation via telephone, said, “This (has) no frills in it, no fluff, it’s a conservative budget that we can all be proud of.” Commissioner Richard Walser was also unable to appear at the meeting but sent a letter confirming his approval to pass the proposed budget.

As in the past, the Justice Fund – sheriff and prosecutor offices – makes up the largest portion of the budget at $7.6 million dollars, or 40 percent of it.

It includes nearly twice the number of employee salaries as the rest of the budget categories combined, County Clerk Henrianne Westberg said.

Westberg also said this budget will help fund much-needed renovations to the Latah County Courthouse, such as adding an ADA compliant ramp, repairing the stucco on the side of the building, improvements to the upper east parking lot, adding a visitors waiting area to the jail and improving the landscape and signage at the courthouse.

Westberg, as well as Commissioner Tom Lamar, who led the meeting, thanked all of the department heads and elected officials who submitted their budget requests for being realistic and conservative with their requests. The new budget allows for all of their requests to be met, said Westberg.

Since 51 percent of the budget is obtained through taxpayers, Latah County residents can expect, on average, a $5 increase on property taxes. As for the rest of county revenue, 10 percent is carryover from the previous fiscal year; 38 percent is from other county revenues such as grants and liquor tax; and 1 percent is property tax replacement revenue from the state.

“This budget takes a good step towards helping to recognize and honor those who work in Latah County,” Lamar said.