Budget Plans $2 Million Reserve Hearing On County Spending; Employees’ Dues Get Scrutiny

Spokane County commissioners will take public comment today on a 1997 budget that calls for putting $2 million into an account reserved for emergencies, but still spends $266,000 so employees can be members of professional organizations.

The county has a general fund budget of $88 million but less than $400,000 in its bank account. Commissioners wanted to set aside $1 million this year, but saw the amount dwindle as one department head after another made emergency requests.

The plan for 1997 is to set aside $2 million. To meet that goal, most departments were told they’ll have to get by with about the same amount they had this year.

The biggest increase in the proposed budget is $266,000 for a new Superior Court judge and support staff, said budget Director Marshall Farnell.

Commissioner-elect Kate McCaslin wants the county to shave more from the budget by cutting the amount it spends on association dues.

For instance, the county pays $1,600 so some of its attorneys can be members of the state bar association.

There are similar bills for employees from nearly every department. McCaslin said the number of employees whose dues are paid should be reduced.

“Until we get the reserve fund built up, I think we have to look at every possible avenue we can” for saving money, said McCaslin.

Commissioner John Roskelley said he agrees the county should spend less on association dues. But department heads, not commissioners, should make the cuts after they review the return on the investment, he said.

“There’s a benefit to having certain fresh materials coming to the departments” from the associations, he said.

McCaslin, Roskelley and outgoing Commissioner Steve Hasson agree the county ought to stop paying $6,500 a year to be a member of the National Association of Counties.

“We’re just throwing good money after bad” by paying that bill, said Hasson. “We get nothing from them other than a newsletter.”

Roskelley said commissioners agreed last year to drop out of the association, “but it wasn’t followed up on.”

The budget hearing starts at 3 p.m. in the Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway.

, DataTimes