Commissioners okay funds for solid waste

Despite funding being tied up in a legislative dispute, Wahkiakum County's solid waste recycling program will continue.

The board of county commissioners voted Tuesday to transfer money into the solid waste budget for the rest of 2017 and the first three months of 2018, if necessary.

For 2017, the county budgeted $113,905 for the program. Major revenues include a $42,211 grant from Washington state, $33,00 in solid waste fees, and $33,454 from the Current Expense Fund.

However, funding from the state grant stopped coming in July. That funding is part of the state's Capital Budget, and because of a partisan dispute over the water well regulation, there has been no approval of a bill to go to the governor for approval.

Legislators will address their dispute when they convene for their 2018 session in January.

Commissioners agreed they needed to fund the program, otherwise they fear much of what goes into recycling bins will be dumped around the county.

"We need to be actively looking at . . . trimming down or finding alternatives so we're not bleeding cash," commented Commissioner Mike Backman.

"I think we need to supplement it now and for the first quarter of next year till we get a Capital Budget," said Commissioner Dan Cothren.

Cothren's motion to make the budget supplement passed 3-0.