By Michael Howell
The County Commissioners have adopted a preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2016 with general fund expenditures projected at $4,878.686; a total aggregate levy of $15,391,671; and a road levy of $3,051,859 (see accompanying chart). The entire budget can be viewed on the county’s web page at www.ravalli.us.
This year’s general fund budget of $4,878,686 is down a few hundred thousand from the FY2015 budget of $5,012,872. Last year’s actual expenditures were $4,368,697. The FY2016 budgeted aggregate levy of $15,391,671 is also down a bit from the 2015 budget of $15,411,549. The projected road levy of $3,051,859 is slightly up from the FY2015 budget of $3,026,872. Actual expenditures for the road department for the last four years have ranged from $2.5 million to $2.8 million.
One notable expenditure in the Road Department budget for the coming year is a $1 million purchase of six dump trucks. According to Road Department Administrator John Horat, the money was saved up in the Road Department’s capital reserves and will be used to replace a fleet of six Volvo dump trucks that have been in the fleet since 1995. He said falling fuel prices have helped build up those reserve funds.
“When you purchase about 54,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, a small drop in price can add up to a lot of savings,” said Horat.
Notable, he said, was the authorization to hire five temporary employees over eight months of the year during the construction phase when all the paving and chip sealing is going on, but leaving enough crew to get the winter snow removal work done.
“Everything we requested was approved,” said Horat.
The Sheriff’s Office, on the other hand, did not get the funding that it requested for two new deputies.
“I told the commissioners 10 years ago that we needed 10 new deputies to provide adequate coverage for the whole valley,” said Sheriff Chris Hoffman. “I know the county can’t afford it, but that is what it would take to really have things covered.” He said the need hasn’t diminished, but that the commissioners have only budgeted for one additional officer over the last 13 years.
“I know they can’t afford what is needed,” he said, “so I only asked for two new deputies in my latest budget request. But we didn’t get it.” He said he has asked the commissioners to have an independent manpower analysis done to establish what is really needed in the county.
Hoffman said that his budget request was based on what he believes is truly needed, not on what he believes the county can afford. He said after over 30 years serving as a peace officer in the county he has a good idea of what is required to meet the needs of the community.
Hoffman said he was not at odds with the commissioners, it was just the difference between what is needed and what is affordable. He said it is true across the state that the lion’s share of county expenses goes to public safety, but the sheriffs keep asking for more.
“I will continue to ask for what we need to deliver the services,” said Hoffman. “It is up to the commissioners to figure out what we can afford. We will make do, however, with whatever they give us.”
A public hearing on the final budget is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 10 and may continue on Tuesday, August 11 at 9 a.m. at the commissioners’ meeting room.