County auditor’s finance department cut in half before actual launch

Auditor Eunice Coker listens to Commissioner Pat O’Neill talk on staffing. By Joe Smillie

Whitman County Auditor Eunice Coker’s authority to hire a two-member finance department was cut in half Monday. County commissioners said the financial projections are too glum to hire two people.

Coker asked county commissioners in a workshop meeting for the authority to hire two employees to manage the county’s finances.

Commissioners said the county’s budget could not support two new employees.

“If you ain’t got the money, you can’t spend it,” said Commissioner Pat O’Neill.

Commissioner Greg Partch rev...