Budget set at $28 million

EPHRATA — The Grant County commissioners adopted a 2007 budget of slightly more than $28 million Friday.

The commission withdrew $1.7 million from a cumulative reserve fund to make up for a deficit and balance the budget, Commission Chairman Richard Stevens said. The reserve fund now sits at $3.6 million, enough for just less than two months of county operations, he said.

"It took more money than we wanted to balance," Stevens said in an interview.

Earlier this month, during 2007 budget work sessions, the three-member commission blamed the bulk of the deficit on the rising cost of criminal justice services.

Cost of living increases for employee wages and health care benefits drove up expenses, along with inflation, the commissioners said. Meantime, revenues have not kept pace, they said.

The budget included the addition of one new full-time position in the building and fire marshal's office and an additional position in the assessor's office.

The county didn't raise rates or fees as part of the budget.