Grant County closes budget gap

$31.8 million budget approved Wednesday

EPHRATA - Grant County's $31.8 million general fund budget was approved Wednesday after it was balanced with $1.6 million from the county's reserves.

It was balanced without laying off employees.

"We got into the reserves a little less than last year," Grant County Commissioner LeRoy Allison explained.

The county spent about $1.7 million of its reserves to balance the 2007 budget of $28 million, Allison said. The county increased its budget by $3.8 million for 2008.

Until early last week, there was a projected $4.5 billion shortfall. But the gap started closing as more departments moved through budget hearings with commissioners.

New staff was not added to any departments, including the prosecutor's office.

The decision came after Prosecutor John Knodell asked commissioners earlier this month for more employees to fight non-felony juvenile crime. City and police leaders from Grant County were also at the hearing to support Knodell.

Commissioner Richard Stevens said Wednesday almost 100 percent cooperation was gained from county departments after they were asked by commissioners to cut their budgets by 5 percent. He also commended staff for shrinking the budget book.

The capital budget of $381,066 includes a new barn roof at the county fairgrounds, 27 ballistic vests and six Honda motorcycles for the sheriff's office, and computer and office equipment for other departments.

An employee wage increase beyond cost of living adjustments made up between $1.2 million to $1.3 million of the budget. Wages were last updated 10 years ago.