No rate increase in proposed Grant PUD budget

2008 budget set at $458.7 million

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD's proposed $458.7 million budget shows $10.3 million set aside to expand the fiber-optic system and $26.8 million for Wanapum Dam's turbine replacement project.

This year's proposed budget is $22 million higher than last year's proposal of $436.7 million, according to PUD documents.

There are no rate increases shown in the budget proposal, said Bonnie Overfield, a senior financial analyst with the utility. But any final decisions on the budget would be made by commissioners when they adopt it before the end of the year.

Before commissioners decide on the budget, they preside over public budget hearings where residents will hear a budget overview and time is expected to be allowed for further discussion. Commissioners then consider the public comments for possible changes to the budget.

The utility held the first of its two public budget hearings today at PUD headquarters in Ephrata. The regular commission meeting is rescheduled for Tuesday.

A second budget hearing is set for Nov. 26, at the Grant PUD Coulee City Service Center, on Road 1.8 N.E., Coulee City.

The utility's financial staff will then meet with commissioners on Dec. 3 and make changes to the draft budget based on comments from the hearings, said Jim Bunch, Grant County PUD's director of strategic planning, accounting and finance.

Other budget highlights include plans to build three new substations in 2008, Bunch said.

Three substations were built this year to accommodate growth, he said. In past years, only one substation was built every three to four years, he said.

It's unclear what the fiber network expansion will look like because commissioners are trying to narrow down where the work will occur, said Sarah Morford, the utility's spokeswoman. A fiber workshop to help make those decisions may be held by the end of the year, she said.

This year's proposal also shows an increase of 73 positions from last year's budget for a total of 741 positions, which includes seasonal and full-time jobs.

The turbine replacement project at Wanapum Dam to increase power generation, and the training of new employees by departing staff members are some reasons for the staffing increase, Morford said. The turbine project is being done as part of the utility's relicensing of the Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams, she said.