County 2015 budget gets $197,815 trim

Whitman County finance officials have been adjusting proposed budgets, but the county’s 2015 proposed budget still has a deficit of more than $300,000.

According to county finance director Cinnamon Brown, no one from the public attended the second public hearing about the budget on Monday morning.

Whitman County Commissioner Dean Kinzer said although the first hearing revealed more than a $500,000 deficit, preliminary reductions have whittled it down by almost $200,000. Now the deficit is shown as $318,498, a difference of $197,815.

Kinzer said the commissioners hope to get a finished budget by the end of the month, but because of some employee health issues, the final budget might not be finished until some time in November.

The county must submit its budget to the state by Dec. 31, Kinzer said.

Total county expenses for 2015 are $58,435,933 and county revenue is listed as $58,117,435.