Nez Perce County approves $30 million budget

Budget approved in short meeting

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Story Published: Sep 3, 2008 at 10:52 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 1:40 AM PDT

By Matt Loveless

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LEWISTON - They approved the use of more than $30 million and no one seemed to care.

Nez Perce County Commissioners approved the final budget for fiscal year 2009 at a meeting Tuesday night. County Clerk Patty Weeks said there was surprisingly no public comment, and it only lasted 17 minutes.

"In the past a our public budget hearings, we've had citizens come and provide input," said Weeks. "I was looking forward to answering questions and receiving that input. It was rather disappointing."

In case you missed it, which is likely, the budget for 2009 will be just less than 10 percent more than 2008. Weeks said that's driven by employees wages, the new jail, and fuel. The County Road department alone is budgeted for $400,000 worth of fuel, up from $230,000 last year. That's a 73 percent increase.

"Putting diesel or gas in the vehicles and graders, but it also impacts paving and patching," said Weeks. "That has gone up 19 percent."

The county is set to move into the new jail by December, but of course the bigger jail means more people and more maintenance.

"That includes brand new overhead costs," said Weeks. "New personnel to run the jail, and of course now we have to start paying more money for the financing of the jail."

Idaho County Commissioners approved a 4 percent wage hike for county employees. This, despite protesters who picketed Tuesday night's meeting and called for the ouster of the commissioners.

Also on Tuesday, Idaho County commissioners approved a $2,000 one-time bonus for the clerk, assessor, sheriff and treasurer.

Former Commissioner Pat Holmberg protested the raises and
bonuses, saying the county couldn't afford it with the poor
economy.

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