County Approves ‘Hold Line’ Budget

Spokane County commissioners adopted a “hold the line” budget for 1997, agreeing to spend $88 million on services ranging from crime and punishment to parks and health programs.

The general fund budget is 5.3 percent larger than this year, but only after commissioners set aside some $2 million for an emergency reserve and $2.8 million of projected revenue from the juvenile jail sales tax.

With those two amounts pulled out of the budget, the projected spending is 0.5 percent larger than this year.

The Sheriff’s Department received an extra $300,000 for new patrol cars, and Superior Court an extra $256,000 for a new judge and staff.

Beyond that, “it’s the same basic budget as 1996,” said Marshall Farnell, county director of administrative services. “The only increases are those that can’t be avoided, such as step increases for employees.”

The largest single piece of the general fund will go to the Sheriff’s Department, at $14.9 million for law enforcement and $10.8 million for the jail. Both were slight decreases from the amounts adopted a year ago by the commission.

Commission Chairman Phil Harris said the board has requests from various county elected officials for supplemental funds totaling $2.9 million. Although the board will consider them over the next two weeks, Harris said he doubted that those requests would be approved.

The preliminary budget was adopted with no testimony from the public or department officials, who already have debated their budgets with commissioners.

Harris said he believes the lack of comment means county officials realize the board is serious about cutting spending and setting aside a $2 million emergency fund.

, DataTimes