County budget ready for review

Wahkiakum County commissioners will hold their annual public hearing on their 2016 budgets on December 7, 9:30 a.m., in the commission's meeting room.

Commissioners went into the budget preparation process thinking they were looking at a revenue shortfall for the Current Expense Fund, which covers most courthouse services, but the preliminary budget shows a balanced fund budget estimated at $5.1 million.

Current Expense shows some revenue increase. In the Non-Departmental budget, Criminal Justice revenues from the State of Washington are expected to increase from $400,000 for 2015 to $772,000 for 2016. In the treasurer's budget, revenue from state managed timber trust land is estimated at $1 million, up from $797,672.83 for 2015. In 2015, the board expected an overall revenue shortfall and budgeted a shift of Road Department $200,000 levy funds; however, none of those funds were needed. For 2016, the budget shows a potential shift of $60,000 from the county road levy. Property and personal property taxes are predicted to increase from a collection of $824,657.49 this year to an estimated $957,889 next year.

The county clerk generated new revenue this year by starting an online divorce program. The service is expected to generate $95,000 in 2016 and an additional $40,000 in related fees.

Overall, most departments have budgets close to those of 2015. Responding to input from elected officials, the board has budgeted 5 percent salary increases for the officials, the first raise in nearly 10 years.

Separate from the Current Expense Fund, the Road department budget totals $4.73 million. That's down from $5.6 million budgeted for 2014. Gone are funds for construction of a new ferry and ferry ramp, but added are revenues for road paving and construction projects.

Copies of the budgets are available at the county auditor's office.