2017-2018 county budget approved

At Monday’s 10 a.m. hearing for the 2017-2018 county budget, Supervisor Stan Watne said that overall, the board of supervisors felt comfortable with the county’s financial state. “The county’s in sound position with these ending balances,” he said. “I think that shows good budgeting, and that we’re not over taxing.” However, there were some changes from last year’s budget to the amounts and origins of certain funds.

Betty Ellis, county auditor, reported that the county’s contribution to ambulance services will increase from $24,500 to $50,000 for the next fiscal year. In other changes, $292,000 for county employees’ health insurance was moved from the general basic fund to general supplemental. Emergency management funds were also moved from the general basic fund. “That almost $40,000 will be paid out of general supplemental in this budget,” Ellis said.

The county has also established a separate transportation fund.

“That in the past has been paid out of general basic,” Ellis said. “The transportation fund will handle our transit program and hopefully will be self-sustaining from here forward.”

Read the full article in the March 9 edition of the Eagle.