Commissioners propose cutsto several budgets

November 1 , 2007

Wahkiakum County commissioners last Friday wrapped up a week of meetings with department heads in which they outlined proposed cuts in budgets to several programs.

The board anticipates a $330,000 revenue shortfall in 2008, Commissioner Tom Doumit said Tuesday.

The cuts are just proposals, Doumit said, and there is disagreement among the commissioners over them. Public hearings will be held later in November before the budgets are adopted.

Doumit summarized the proposed cuts:

—The Cooperative Extension program would be completely eliminated, saving about $84,000.

—Funding to St. James Family Center for a variety of youth programs would be cut completely, saving $19,000.

—One full-time employee equivalent (FTE) would be cut in each the auditor’s and treasurer’s office; but a 1 FTE position would be created to share between the offices.

—The court clerk would also have a reduction in clerical staff, and the sheriff’s office and Health and Human Services would each lose 1 FTE.

—Funding for the Wahkiakum County Noxious Weed Program would be reduced $5,000, the amount of its cost-share program.

—Funding for the Wahkiakum County Fair would be reduced to $20,000, down from $30,000.

Doumit said he opposed cutting Extension funding and hopes the board can find a way to fund the program at least partially. He met with Extension supervisors Tuesday to discuss the issue.

“Programs like Extension and St. James leverage money,” he said. “They bring more money into the county than they cost.”