County budget gets initial OK
Flathead County commissioners on Thursday gave preliminary approval to the 2008 budget.
The estimated figures show county revenues will reach $58.5 million and expenditures will be $57.8 million.
County Administrator Mike Pence said the budget will look a lot like it has in the past few years.
"We continue to try to hold the line as much as possible," Pence said. "But the growth we are experiencing requires us to continue to increase staffing and other expenditure items."
Flathead County is working toward what is called "performance budgeting" as an approach to its annual operating budget. That means there is an emphasis on program objectives rather than descriptions of purchases. As a part of this approach each department is required to outline its performance objectives, workload indicators and performance measures.
Flathead County is still in the early stages of implementing the performance budgeting system.
Personnel represent one of the most substantial additions to this year's budget. The county had requests for 11.35 new full-time employees to add to the current work force of about 500 full-time individuals.
The commissioners approved funding for 8.35 additional employees. Four of those positions are at the Sheriff's Office: Two new deputies will begin work this summer and two more will begin in January 2008.
Other departments getting more help will be Clerk of Court, Justice Court, Finance, County Attorney and Library.
According to Pence, the county will continue with its current functions and programs.
"Our management team does a good job continuing to provide the services mandated by law and expected by our citizens," Pence said.
Minor changes and revisions likely will be made to the budget, but broad figures will stay much the same.
A public hearing on the budget will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 6 in the commissioners' meeting room. The commissioners then would consider final adoption of the budget.
Reporter Amy May can be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com