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County aims to close budget gap

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published November 30, 2008

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Thurston County has proposed several steps, including additional layoffs and cutting funding for some departments, to balance its budget next year.

This month, officials proposed laying off 7 percent of the county's work force, representing more than 80 full-time-equivalent jobs, to deal with a projected budget shortfall.

But revenue forecasts continue to look grim, and some departments did not cut their operating budgets enough to reduce the general operating budget to $75 million.

The proposed steps would slash $1.2 million more in costs and save an additional $1.2 million to hold in reserve. The county has dipped into its reserve to pay for operations, and county officials say they want to rebuild the reserve.

The steps would result in the layoffs of more than a half-dozen additional employees. They would also slash county funding support for its parks department and fairgrounds.

"We're squeezing everything we can to try to make this work," Chief Administrative Officer Don Krupp said.

The county proposes shifting $1 million from its road fund to help pay for the sheriff's office traffic unit. The proposal will free general fund money going to the unit for other purposes.

The road fund has a separate property-tax levy and also receives money from gas taxes.

"I'm now balancing my budget on reserves," said Donavan Willcutt, the department's deputy director.

The county will reduce its general fund contribution to the Thurston County Fair from $100,000 to $50,000.

In the past 10 years, the county has cut its contribution to the fair by more than half, and fair manager Rick Storvick said he has relied more on fees to make up the difference.

The loss of the general fund support could mean an increase in rental fee at the fairgrounds and admission prices at the fair, he said.

"We'll have to take a really close, hard look at that," Storvick said.

Other ways to generate money is through sponsorships and new events, such as a community wide garage sale that is in the planning stages, he said.

The budget already calls for deep cuts to the county's planning department and criminal-justice system.

Christian Hill covers Thurston County for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5427 or chill@theolympian.com.