County to open 2010 in the red

Whitman County commissioners plan to enter 2010 with a budget deficit of as much as $250,000 that will be balanced out of working cash reserves from part of the county’s general fund.

Through October of this year, the county’s cash account stood at $2,583,412, which is $471,674 over the 10-year average. To meet the budget deficit, the county will tap those cash accounts.

The plan calls for moving cash accounts between different departments where budget deficits are expected to appear.

Commissioner Greg Partch, longest tenured of the three county commissioners, said 2010 will be the first year...