Clallam faces belt-tightening in 2007

November 13th, 2006 - 5:18pm
KONP News

(Port Angeles) -- Clallam County government is fiscally viable, but there will be some belt-tightening in next year's budget.

That message from County Administrator Jim Jones at yesterday's Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Jones says the County could be facing a shortfall of one and a half million dollars in 2007, with only a fraction of new revenue coming in to make up the difference.

Jones say the biggest costs are personnel and skyrocketing medical and retirement benefits.

Putting it all together, Jones says the most likely answer is cutting back on personnel, which comprises 63 percent of the county's budget.

One possibility of solving the dilemma would involve dipping into the County's reserve fund, on a one-time basis.