County facing revenue shortfall

Wahkiakum County officials started discussion of preliminary 2012 budget requests this week knowing they have a big hole to address.

The county will likely face a $450,000 revenue shortfall next year for the Current Expense Fund, which funds most courthouse departments, Treasurer Paula Holloway told department heads on Tuesday.

A big part of that hole is a shortfall in state Criminal Justice Funds, which the state pays quarterly. In the first three quarters of 2011, the state had projected $283,000 revenue to the county, but actual payments total $206,000. She anticipates that trend will carry over into next year. State officials have projected $178,000 for the first three quarters of 2012.

Also, Holloway said, the county is facing a cash flow problem in early 2012.

Revenue from the sale of timber from state managed county trust timberland is an important funding source for the county, but under current harvest plans, there won't be any revenue until June, she said.

In the past, Holloway has been able to borrow from reserves to cover cash flow needs, but reserves have been whittled down to the point there may not be enough available to cover basic spending needs, she said.

"Department heads should keep everything way down," she said.

"We don't have enough in reserves to borrow against. This is the first time we've ever had that situation."

Department heads have submitted budget requests to the board of commissioners, and the board began meeting with individual department heads on Tuesday.

They'll finish those meetings by Monday, and then submit preliminary budget proposals to Auditor Diane Tischer, who will prepare a proposed 2012 budget for a public hearing in early December.

In other business Tuesday:

--Commissioners set public hearings on November 22, starting at 10:30 a.m., on the proposed annual road construction program, updated six-year road program, and ferry improvement program for 2012. The plans outline proposed construction projects and funding sources.

--The board accepted the bid of H&K Construction for repair of roof and siding of the Grays River Valley Center building in the amount of $40,237.

Citing revenue and budget concerns for 2012, the board declined to accept a bid of $9,856 for extra work to remove chimney masonry, remove boiler equipment, and replace restroom windows.

--Skamokawa fisherman Kent Martin asked commissioners to contact Governor Chris Gregoire and express concerns about the consideration of new commercial fishing gear, such as seines, to replace traditional gillnets.

If the state moves to switch gear, fishermen will have to invest money in the new gear, and there is no guarantee they'll be able to catch enough salmon to pay for the gear, he said.

Commissioners said they would work on a letter and include language suggesting the state aid fishermen in refitting their boats to make the switch, if it comes to pass.

"I won't participate in that at my age," Martin commented.

--Commissioners also said they would write to federal elected representatives to ask that they contact the US Postal Service to oppose the proposed closure of the Skamokawa Post Office.

Middle Valley resident Becky Ledtke said several people have already written to Congresswoman Jaime Herra Buetler who has said she would support the continued operation of the post office.