County budget released

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners has just under a week to trim roughly 16.4 mills from its proposed $10.7 million operating budget for fiscal year 2021.

The preliminary budget, approved unanimously by county commissioners following an Aug. 26 public hearing, would require 120 mills to fund as is. The county is capped at 104.46 mills — a mill is valued at $37,319 — by the state during this fiscal cycle.

That’s down from the projected 140 mills required to cover spending requests as of several days prior, said County Administrator Patrick McFadden. He told reporters that he was working with department heads to cut back further.

“We’re headed in the right direction,” McFadden said. “We’re working to get to the right level so this budget will be balanced. That’s pretty much where we stand.”

McFadden hoped to have a balanced budget to present to commissioners and taxpayers by Sept. 2.

The size of the budget shortfall — it was at about $670,000 as of last week — spurred commissioners to call for more oversight of county departments’ finances throughout the year. County Commissioner Mark Peck (D-1) recalled meeting regularly on fiscal matters with elected officials when he worked in local government.

“I know in Flathead County, I think I met with [commissioners] once a month and they had my budget sheet in front of them and if I was off a little bit they were asking questions,” Peck said.

Commissioners have suggested meeting with the heads of larger departments each month and smaller agencies on a quarterly basis. McFadden said that since taking over as county administrator he has worked to make department heads responsible for their budgets.

In the past, it fell to the finance department to track revenue and spending, undertake financial planning and issue reports, he said.

“I’ve taken the step of trying to empower the department heads to do that on their own, with access to their own spending, so they can track and provide that up the chain,” McFadden said. “They become more knowledgeable about the process and understand what is in their budget at a better level.”

Commissioners also alluded to departments that inherited “past sins,” working off of budgets with inaccurate revenue projections.

The largest shares of the budget go to the library, district court, airports, ambulance service and public safety, which comprises the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Of those, funding for public safety accounts for the largest amount, coming in with a roughly $4.57 million appropriation in the proposed budget.

The sheriff’s office appropriation has increased steadily in the past few years, going from about $3.6 million in the fiscal 2019 budget to $4.2 million in fiscal 2020.

During a separate budget discussion with Sheriff Darren Short and Undersheriff Brad Dodson on Aug. 25, county commissioners pushed the lawmen to find ways to trim expenditures. Peck stressed that his concerns were not political — alluding the widespread defund law enforcement movement — but fiscal.

“Look at three years … it was $3.6 million two years ago, $4.2 million last year and now we’re at $4.5 million,” Peck said. “I would just, me personally, look at that, go through things and see what you can do.”

“We know it’s challenging,” said County Commissioner Jerry Bennett (D-2). “We all have a ticket on the Titanic.”

Commissioners noted that other departments would receive similar instructions. Libby Airport, for example, had planned on keeping its refurbished snowplow even after getting a replacement vehicle paid for through federal grant dollars this year.

“Aren’t they going to sell it?” Peck asked during the budget talks. “I think maybe they are.”

In a worst-case scenario, county commissioners could pull from the payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) fund to cover the difference. Officials in Lincoln County generally set aside the dollars for unexpected costs because the amount received fluctuates year-to-year. But they prefer to spend the money on projects rather than covering budget shortfalls.

Commissioners also placed a portion of the blame at Helena’s feet. Local officials find out how much revenue they have to work with nearly two months into the fiscal year and after expenses, like pay raises for public employees, are approved.

Ultimately, commissioners unanimously approved the preliminary budget Aug. 26, setting the stage for a Sept. 2 final hearing. The meeting, well attended by local reporters and county employees, was devoid of residents. Peck decried the lack of public participation.

“Here we are, passing the budget … and nobody is here. It’s crickets,” Peck said. “Boy, put up a gate at the gun range and this place would be packed out the door.”