Budget Dance Starting Again Officials Want Larger Reserves, But Departments Fear More Cuts

The Spokane County budget shuffle has started - an annual dance where departments go toe-to-toe with commissioners and budget constraints.

Already, some department heads are anxious, fearing a proposed trim in next year’s projected budgets. Commissioners want to cut proposed general fund budgets so the county can keep adequate money in an emergency reserve.

Last year, departments trimmed 3 percent from their projected budgets. Administrators fear they can’t tighten their belts any more after cinching up the past five years.

“I question whether it’s necessary, because it does hurt service to the public,” Treasurer Linda Wolverton said. “I would have to lay off two or three people answering telephones and providing service.”

County spending actually will increase next year despite the proposed cuts. That’s largely because of scheduled salary increases and inflation.

This week marks the beginning of a monthlong budget-setting process. No hard figures are available yet - just wispy projections and dreamy wish lists.

Commissioners say they want to pump up the county’s reserve fund and trim fat from the general fund, which totals about $84 million this year.

They say increasing the reserve is essential to pay for emergency expenses and to maintain the county’s double-A bond rating, which saves taxpayers millions of dollars a year in interest on projects financed with long-term bonds.

“This county cannot afford to go broke,” Commissioner Phil Harris told Budget Director Marshall Farnell on Tuesday. “You’re going to have to do some fancy footwork to keep the double-A rating.”

The county’s reserve fund stands at $368,730 after more than a dozen bites totaling more than $1 million this year. Almost half was spent on emergency law and justice budget requests.

Last week, Farnell asked departments operating under the general fund to trim 4 percent from next year’s budgets to help save $3 million.

On Tuesday, Harris asked Farnell to scale back the proposed cuts to almost 3 percent overall, with different departments taking different hits.

“I don’t think we can cut our departments to the point where they can no longer provide service,” Harris said. “We’re going to have to armwrestle over that.”

A cut could mean lost jobs, Assessor Charlene Cooney said. Her office recently won approval to hire a deputy assessor and an assistant.

“We’ve come a long way this year, and we do not want to go backwards,” she said.

Farnell is working on a budget with $2 million for the reserve fund.

“I think we’ve got to do that,” Commissioner Steve Hasson said.

Commissioners still hope to afford the salary of another Superior Court judge, although the position isn’t built into initial budget estimates.

Hasson and Commissioner John Roskelley said an 11th judge is a top priority due to rising caseloads. Harris said he’d support another judge, effective July 1, if the money’s available. The state picks up half the tab.

, DataTimes