Opinion - Is this the time for the county to buy another building?

Whitman County is considering buying another building. This one would be for the health department’s Pullman office. Currently, the space for the office is rented from the Pullman Hospital Foundation.

The foundation does not want to continue being in the landlord business. Options for the county are to close its Pullman office, relocate to another site or buy the space, which is located in a complex of medical condominiums.

Discussions over the future of the office started with the option of simply closing the Pullman office and consolidating operations in Colfax.

That was a logical starting point. The county faces a very difficult year next year. Every department is being asked to cut expenses to balance the new budget. Both elected and non-elected department heads are still working out how the required savings will be achieved.

The health department is no exception. It must still come up with a few thousand dollars in additional savings.

It is never an easy matter when revenue projections and expense projections come together showing red ink.

The natural inclination is to avoid any new commitments and to shed as many other unnecessary ones as possible. This has been the basis for most county decisions in the past, with short term needs taking precedence over long term needs.

Despite the current budget crunch, the long term cannot be ignored. The Pullman office of the health department provides services to more clients than does the department’s Colfax office.

Closing the office, even temporarily, would dislocate many clients and leave a gap in services. The closure would also incur expenses which would be money out the door without improving or even maintaining services.

If the repayment schedule and maintenance costs roughly match the current rental payments, this option may be the best for all.

Reacting to difficult times often precludes looking beyond immediate circumstances. This option recognizes current circumstances as well as the fact that there will be a tomorrow.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher