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The 2020 budget for the Okanogan County PUD was finalized at the Dec. 16 meeting of the board of commissioners, including $58.3 million in revenue, $48.9 million in expenditures, $4 million in debt service and a capital budget of $13.5 million.
To reach that revenue amount, the district will pursue a 2 percent increase in revenue; how that will affect the different rate classes (residential, general service, irrigation, etc.) will be determined through a rate setting process in early 2020.
The budget also cuts expenses, including no longer staffing the Omak office. The office will still have a drop box for payments, which will be collected daily, but will not have an attendant beginning April 1. By not hiring a currently open customer service position and not staffing the Omak office, the district will save $84,000 annually. The current customer service staff member at Omak would still work for the district.
Various departments across the district also cut back on their budgets, in many cases by delaying projects or equipment purchases.
Commissioners expressed their appreciation for staff efforts to cut the budget, which originally called for a 3 percent revenue increase (4 percent was suggested in the new 10-year equity management plan).
Commissioner Scott Vejraska said times are tough in all the community: orchardists are losing $2-5 a box and cattlemen haven’t seen numbers this low in many years. He said everywhere he goes he hears the people ask why the PUD is doing this again.
Commissioner Bill Colyar said he understands the difficult economic times, but also that poor maintenance of the system can lead to a degraded electrical grid. He said he couldn’t see a way around raising rates while still meeting the district’s needs.
Commissioner Jerry Asmussen said there will be discussion about the revenue increase and exactly what that will look like, as the district needs to meet its upcoming costs and debt coverage.
The budget was approved 2-1, with Commissioner Vejraska voting against.
In other business, the board: