County budget due on Monday

Wahkiakum County commissioners and other officials worked this week to finish the proposed 2009 budget for publication next Monday.

The officials started a Tuesday meeting with the budget $194,000 out of balance and went through a process to even up revenues and expenditures.

Among their actions:

--Commissioners agreed to fund Washington State Cooperative Extension $10,000, which should allow the program to continue in 2009.

Officials also debated the legality of transferring money from the Cumulative Reserve for Interlocal Cooperation to Extension.

--They found $100,000 of the shortfall by agreeing to transfer that amount out of the County Road Fund.

"I don't think we have any other option," said Commissioner Dan Cothren. "I really don't want to do it. When we get extra money from timber sales, we need to put some back in County Road."

--There will be no salary increases for non-union personnel. The county has started negotiations with the county employees' union.

--The board did agree to a request from Auditor Diane Tischer to restore her $3000 appropriation for extra help. She said she had cut personnel as requested by the board, but the extra help is needed to cover in illnesses and emergencies and to back up the payroll clerk.

The proposed budget should be available to the public next Monday. The board will hold a public hearing on the budget at a later date.